Mohammed Shosanya
Dr. Amadi Dorothy, Deputy Director, Non-communicable Diseases, Public Health Department of Federal Ministry of Health has said that estimated 38.6 million soft drinks are sold daily in Nigeria, making it the highest soft drink consuming nation in the world
She gave the hint at inaugural meeting of the ad-hoc committee organized by the Non-Communicable Disease Division of the Federal Ministry of Health had representatives of different Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government with important roles to play in the implementation of the SSB tax for the tackling of Nigeria’s NCDs burden.
According to her,the explosion in consumption of SSBs in Nigeria is a public health concern that is connected to the rise in non-communicable diseases such as weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart and kidney diseases, and cancer, among others.
She explained that SSBs is any drink that contain natural or added sugar including Soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks, sweetened water, coffee, tea beverages added sugar, energy drinks, maltose drinks et cetera.
She added:”NCD is associated with frequent consumption of SSBs leading to increase in obesity, diabetes, incidence of dental issues, heart diseases, like stroke and hypertension.
“SSBs consumption has also been linked to all forms of cancers, an estimated 38.6 million of soft drinks are sold daily in Nigeria, making Nigeria the highest soft drink consuming country in the world”.
Amadi noted that SSB tax has been identified as the most effective way of reducing the consumption of SSBs, consequently reducing the incidence and prevalence of NCDS.