Africa
THE National Action on Sugar Reduction (NASR), a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), says introduction of a healthy food policy will assist in reduction of non-communicable diseases in the country.
Mr Edozie Chukwuma, Senior Associate, Planning Advocacy and Engagement, NASR and Gatefield, said this on Wednesday in Abuja.
Chukwuma, who is a NASR Journalism fellow, said this at a media event to highlight the significance of healthy food policies such as the Sugar Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that globally, taxation has been an effective method for reducing consumption of unhealthy foods.
NAN also reports that introducing such a policy as the SSB tax had already been implemented in places like the America, Mexico, and South Africa; research shows that has contributed to a decrease in consumption.
Also speaking at the event, Miss Shirley Ewang, Advocacy Specialist at Gatefield, a member of NASR, emphasised the need to continue advocating for sustenance and increase of the SSB tax in Nigeria.
She said the timeliness of this as the beverage industry was pushing back on the tax and calling for its removal.
Also, Joy Amafah from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, spoke about the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria and the importance of healthy food policies in reducing and preventing them.
On her part, Rachael Abujah, an award winning journalist and Gatefield pro-health journalism fellow, shared that Nigeria currently lacked an efficient food policy and urged the government to define the tax and earmark it for health purposes.
Abujah a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, emphasised that the government should ensure that the funds from the tax are used appropriately, and should be earmarked to improve public health.
Usman Bello, another fellow, highlighted a research from the Harvard Medical School, which revealed that consuming just one cane of soft drink daily increases the chance of getting type two diabetes by 26 per cent.
Bello said while sugary drinks may not be the direct cause of type 2 diabetes, they are major risk factor with no nutritional value.
Edozie Chukwuma, Senior Associate, Planning Advocacy and Engagement, NASR and Gatefield said they remained dedicated to advocating for the pro-health SSB tax and would continue to raise awareness about its importance.(NAN)
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Tags: Edozie Chukwuma Global Health Advocacy Incubator Joy Amafah Mr Edozie Chukwuma Rachael Abujah
