Minister of well being and social welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has stated that Nigeria was going through a rising well being disaster with Sugar Sweetened Drinks (SSBs) associated ailments reminiscent of weight problems and diabetes.
The minister said this yesterday on the Nationwide Convention on SSB tax, themed “Well being Tax as a Recipe for Improved Healthcare Financing,” organised by Company Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) in Abuja.
SSBs are any liquid that’s sweetened with varied types of added sugars, reminiscent of corn syrup, fructose, glucose, honey, lactose, malt syrup, and sucrose.
Additionally they embrace carbonated, power, milk-based, pre-sweetened teas, coffees, and juice drinks.Represented by the everlasting secretary of the Federal Ministry of Well being and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, the minister famous that the related healthcare prices for SSB-related ailments are escalating at an alarming price.
He stated, “The price of treating diabetes per individual has surged from a median of N60,000 in 2011 to N800,000 in 2021, and it’s projected to exceed N1,000,000 by 2030.”
Nevertheless, Dr. Pate highlighted the vital function of well being tax in enhancing public well being, stating that the SSBs tax is focused at lowering the consumption of those unhealthy drinks as a manner of defending Nigerians from non-communicable ailments.
“In 2021, Nigeria joined over 100 international locations which have launched taxes on sugar-sweetened drinks. This tax, embedded within the Finance Act 2021, levies a ₦10 tax on every litre of all non-alcoholic, sweetened, and carbonated drinks.
“This tax serves as a deterrent and generates important income that may be reinvested into healthcare initiatives, significantly preventive measures and the therapy of non-communicable ailments,” he defined.
In her welcome handle, the director of the Meals and Drug Companies Division, Federal Ministry of Well being and Social Welfare, Pharm Olubunmi Aribeana, harassed the essential function of SSBs tax implementation in curbing the rising tide of non-communicable ailments, significantly these linked to extreme sugar consumption.
She advocated for wholesome dietary selections supported by efficient insurance policies and sturdy well being programs.
“Wholesome diets are essential for selling well being, supporting energetic life, and stopping ailments, together with each communicable and non-communicable ones,” stated Aribeana.
On his half, the chief director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, urged the federal government to extend the SSB tax from N10 to N130 per litre or implement a revised tax construction to 50 per cent of the whole retail worth price of SSB merchandise as beneficial by the World Tax Drive for Well being.
“This adjustment is not going to solely align with the World Well being Organisation’s (WHO) suggestions but additionally with the 2024 Bloomberg report on efficient well being taxes,” he stated.
