A coalition of non-governmental organisations, National Action on Sugar Reduction (NASR), has advocated policy measures to tackle the health risks of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages in the country.
It said a sugar-sweetened beverage (soft drinks) had contributed to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria, including type II diabetes, stroke and heart diseases.
NASR said in Nigeria, the cost of diabetes care is amounted to $4.5 billion per annum, stating that many people who consumed soft drinks could afford to treat the chronic diseases associated with it.
In a communique issued by its representative, Omei Bongos-Ikwue shortly after its inaugural meeting in Abuja on Tuesday night, the coalition said a single soft drink bottle contains staggering amounts of sugar — up to 12 cubes.
It stated further that Soft drinks are also major contributing factors to tooth decay and obesity, a risk factor for a host of chronic diseases, adding that a Euromonitor report had listed Nigeria as the 4th highest consumer of soft drinks in the world.
“The National Action on Sugar Reduction, a coalition of non-governmental organisations advocating for policy measures to tackle the health risks of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages, held its inaugural meeting in Abuja.
“Sugar-sweetened beverages (soft drinks) contribute significantly to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria, including type II diabetes, stroke and heart disease. A single soft drink bottle contains staggering amounts of sugar — up to 12 cubes.
“Soft drinks are also a major contributing factor to tooth decay and obesity, a risk factor for a host of chronic diseases. A Euromonitor report lists Nigeria as the 4th highest consumer of soft drinks in the world. NCDs have far-reaching economic effects. A significant cause of premature death in people under 40 years, NCDs have the chilling capacity to cut lives short in their prime.
“This is a setback to economic productivity. In Nigeria, the cost of diabetes care amounts to $4.5 billion per annum. These expenses come to nearly ₦37,000 a month – more than half of an average Nigerian’s monthly earnings of ₦60,000. This also amounts to more than ten times the budgetary allocation for health per citizen.
“High healthcare costs signify that many people who can afford to buy soft drinks cannot afford to treat the chronic diseases associated with drinking them.
“There is growing evidence to suggest that suitable health policies, such as a tax, can discourage the consumption of sugary drinks and potentially prevent their poor health effects,’’ the communique read.
