The Federal Ministry of Health has pledged to raise the levy on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) from the existing rate of 10% to 20% in an effort to tackle the growing public health problems linked to excessive sugar intake.
This important move intends to encourage healthy beverage selections, decrease consumption of processed sugars and soft drinks, and contribute to a better future for current residents and future generations.
Reports state that the World Health Organisation, WHO, has advised countries like Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Portugal, and many others to implement a global SSB tax of 20%. These issues include the rise in global health issues related to high sugar intake, including childhood obesity, diabetes, and dental problems.
The Ministry wants to further discourage people from buying sugar-sweetened goods by making them more expensive and encouraging them to switch to healthier beverage options.
This information was provided during the Pro-Health Tax Policy Campaign on SSB, which was held on Tuesday in Abuja at the Federal Ministries of Finance and Health, respectively. The Director/Head, Public Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, made the announcement.
“Countries including Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Portugal, and many others have effectively placed taxes on SSBS to decrease the use of sugar-sweetened beverages.
“In Nigeria, the implementation and maintenance of the tax would help lessen the burden of NCDs by reducing excessive SSBS use. With the present pricing of 10 naira per litre, we are committed to achieving the worldwide best practise of at least 20% of the final retail price on all SSBS. This programme complements previous government initiatives to raise public health standards among Nigerians in order to reach the international goal of drastically lowering NCDs, according to the spokesperson.
The campaign, according to Edozie Chukwuma, a spokesman of the National Action and Sugar Reduction Coalition, NASR, intends to educate the public, policymakers, and concerned government officials about the risks connected with SSB intake.
In an effort to reduce the use of sweetened items, he highlighted the necessity for the present administration to raise the SSB tax.
In essence, we’re urging the government to pass legislation to create a fee that forbids or will ultimately diminish the use of sugary drinks. How would this tax operate? It simply works by making sugary beverages more affordable and generating income that may be used to help healthcare, particularly given the burden of non-communicable diseases in the nation. It is an epidemic that requires attention. Over 75% of Nigerians pay out of pocket for the treatment of various illnesses, making out-of-pocket spending at an all-time high, he added.
Dr. Peter Agada, a diabetic who spoke to media during the campaign, also gave advice to Nigerians to avoid carbonated beverages, noting that while they are inexpensive to buy, treating diabetes is more expensive.
In order to limit avoidable fatalities, he urged the federal government to urgently subsidise the cost of diabetes care, including drugs and monitoring equipment.
“If there’s anything the government can do, like make the health insurance programme easily accessible to people who aren’t in the government like myself, I’m not in the government,” he said. I’m not employed by the government. However, I don’t, for instance, have an NHIS. I’m aware that there are several individuals doing it currently, but it’s not easily available to the majority of people.
“Therefore, greater awareness-raising, education, and knowledge about it will be beneficial. It may also be beneficial to give the health insurance system’s private practitioners additional approvals. Then, if there is a method for the government, through its different agencies, to lower the cost of diabetes medications. It is also something that may be of enormous assistance.
“One in every 17 Nigerians has diabetes or pre-diabetes and will get the disease very, very soon. Okay, so diabetes is a fatal condition, and this epidemic is widespread. We don’t approach it that way. Right now, it’s destroying lives all across the world. People are losing their eyes, their limbs, and a variety of other things. Therefore, it’s something that truly wakes you up and take it very seriously.
