By: Awajis Josiah-Chijindu
Journalists in Rivers State have been charged to educate and inform the public on the importance to advocate for the increase of Sugar Sweetened Beverages, SSB Tax as a way of discouraging citizens of Nigeria from excess consumption of SSBs.
The two days training exposed the high rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases, highlight a health crisis in Nigeria, with over 11 million Nigerians currently living with diabetes.
Participants at the training
In a speech presented by the Executive Director of Corporate Accountability Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi for Journalism training on SSB and Industry Monitoring in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, reveals Nigeria's status as the fourth-largest consumer of soft drinks globally.
According to him, the global status is worrisome and has looming health epidemic if not addressed promptly.
The adverse effects of these preventable diseases on productivity, revenue loss, and human lives underscore the urgency for effective policy solutions.
Mr. Oluwafemi noted that the government in response to prevent the effect of SSB initiated an Excise Duty of N10 per litre tax on all carbonated sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) through the 2021 Finance Act which it's implementation began in June 2022.
Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, Director of Corporate Accountability Public Participation Africa (CAPPA),
However noted that the tax falls short of the global recommendation of at least a 20% increase, while addressing the journalists on the need to use their unique platforms to properly educate the public on the adverse effects of SSB consumption.
As journalists, you have a unique platform and responsibility to shed light on critical issues facing our society and promote public health policy interventions.
With in-depth and factual reports, we believe the media can assist in exposing sharp practices by SSB companies. You can also bring focus on regulatory loopholes, and advocate for policies that prioritize public health over corporate profit.
By amplifying the voices of health experts, community leaders, and individuals affected by NCDs, we can galvanize public support for this critical healthy food policy. I urge you to use your platform as journalists to advocate for the effective implementation of SSB Tax, he stated.
On her part, Rivers State Commissioner for Health Dr. Adaeze Oreh represented by Rivers State Epidemiologist , Dr. Ifeoma Nwadiuto stressed the need for partnership in addressing the health concerns of SSB while acknowledging that the government like other countries has put forth modalities to reduce SSB consumption in the country.
We acknowledge partners working with the State to address this health concerns, develop advocacy measures like this training to educate the media on policy conversation and public engagements. It is crucial to emphasize that the Rivers State Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring the health of her people is prioritized and sustained, she stated.
While a Public Health Scientist, Dr Francis Fagbule, in his presentation revealed that Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs were estimated to account for 24% to 29% of all deaths in Nigeria in 2016.
Dr Francis Fagbule, Public Health Scientist
According to him,
Cardiovascular diseases take a lead of 11% (over 7%) of deaths attributable to NCDs Cancers (3%), diabetes (2%), and chronic respiratory diseases (1%). The probability of dying prematurely from NCDs in Nigeria is over 20%, he noted.
Participants at the training noted that the training was an eye opener to the situation in SSB and encouraged the government to quickly adopt the proposal by CAPPA by increasing the tax rate on SSBs companies from N10 to N130 per liter to discourage high consumption of SSB products in Nigeria.
NAWOJIANS, Rivers State Chapter at the Training
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