Nutritional disorder occurring mostly in the tropics and resulting from a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine). The disease takes two forms: in one oedema (waterlogging of the tissues) occurs; in the other there is severe emaciation. There is nerve degeneration in both forms and many victims succumb to heart failure.
Yellow stands for mineral wealth. Green represents the country's vegetation and natural resources. Red recalls the blood spilt during the liberation struggle. Effective date: 18 April 1980.