Recently the price of eggs in Nigeria have become very expensive and this trend has the potential to negatively strong effect to mental and physical development of children from the age of five below, medical expert warned.
The professionals speaks on the high cost of eggs, as it may become very hard for some families to give their children enough nutrition to support healthy growth and development.
The medical expert stated that eggs are fundamental source of nutrition for children, eggs provides them with minerals, vitamins and proteins that are vital for the growth and development.
Omotayo Adesiyun, a Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, emphasis on the importance of eggs containing proteins, vitamins, and macronutrients which are all important for eye health, brain development, immune system development, bone health, and muscle health.
Adesiyun, who is a Paediatrician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, noted that since eggs are less expensive and are getting harder to acquire, it would be challenging for parents to give their children protein-containing foods.
She added, “Eggs are very important to the nutrition of under-five children not because the nutrients in them are not found in other foods but because they are all found together instead of trying to get them from various sources.
“Eggs contain proteins, vitamins, and macronutrients. They are important for eye health, brain development, immune system development, bone health, and muscle health.
“Like I said earlier, there are other sources of nutrients. Protein and minerals can be found in meat, fish, and milk. The vitamins can be found in fruits and vegetables. But the advantage of eggs is that they are all together.
“The problem with the cost of eggs is that virtually all protein-containing foods are very expensive. Eggs are still cheaper than meat and fish.
“We used to advise mothers who can keep chickens to do so so that they could feed their children eggs but the cost of chicken feed is so high now that it might not be practicable.
The paediatrician, however, said, “If children don’t eat eggs but eat meat, fish and drink milk and eat vegetables and fruits, they will not have a nutritional burden.”
