Nestlé Côte d’Ivoire has signed a partnership with the National Program to Combat Metabolic and Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Diseases.
“There is a renewed interest in health and nutrition”, Mark Schneider, CEO of Nestlé Group.
Eating well is life!
Nestlé promotes good nutrition for the well-being of consumers. The world’s leading food company is acting on its commitment to accelerate salt reduction in its products in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which recommend consumption of up to 5 grams of salt per person per day.
In Côte d'Ivoire, however, daily consumption is between 6 and 10 grams per person, which is well above the standard, resulting in health consequences, such as cardiovascular disease.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death, with an estimated 17 million deaths, contributing to more than 25% of global mortality. Over-consumption of salt can then be considered a public health issue.
Nestlé has taken some steps to address this by improving of the nutritional profile of its products. It has reduced the amount of salt in the MAGGI Tablet by 10%. Nestlé has also introduced a new seasoning to the Ivorian market called "MAGGI TABLETTE LIGHT", with salt content lowered by 15%.
Continuing in this approach, Nestlé, has signed a partnership with the National Program to Combat
Metabolic and Non-Communicable Disease Prevention (PNLMM/PMNT) in Côte d’Ivoire.
This is part of the third United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment.
Indeed, the purpose of this public-private partnership is to support the training of 500 general practitioners, nurses and midwives, in the management of non-communicable diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia and "metabolic syndrome". Workshops will be held in 10 cities in Ivory Coast.
Summing up the purpose, Thomas Caso, Managing Director of Nestlé Côte d'Ivoire said, "We hope we can give our modest contribution to improving health indicators in the country”.