Organisations demand tax for sugar-sweetened beverages

<p>The don maintained that evidence has shown that with respect to obesity, an effective starting point to reduce unhealthy food consumption will be through taxing of SSBs.</p>, <span>Two top medical groups call for soda taxes and advertising curbs on sugary drinks</span>, <h2>The National Action on Sugar Reduction (NASR) in collaboration with Prof. Felicia Anumah Diabetes Centre have called on the Federal Government to implement sugar-sweetened beverages tax to help reduce diabetes and obesity in the country.</h2>, <p>The organisations made the appeal on Thursday during a sensitisation walk/rally, health talk and press conference held at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada.</p>, <p>Felicia Anumah, the Director, Centre for Diabetes Studies, University of Abuja, identified over-consumption of sugar as a major contributor to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.</p>, <p>According to her, people who consume sugary drinks regularly have a 26 per cent greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than people who rarely consume such drinks, hence the need to impose tax on sugary products will cushion the effect.</p>, <p>“Obesity is a worldwide epidemic and is a major risk factor for the growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, heart diseases and some cancers.</p>, <p>“In the past three decades, globalisation and urbanisation has led to a shift in food culture and convergence in consumption habits.</p>, <p>“In this ‘nutrition transition’, the consumption of foods high in fats, sugars, salt and sweeteners has increased throughout the developing world.</p>, <p>“This transition therefore is implicated in the rapid rise of obesity and diet-related chronic diseases, worldwide.</p>, <p>“Organisations (CSOs) advocating for policy measures to address the health risks of consuming SSBs. In December 2021, tax policy of 10% on SSBS was introduced via the Finance Act. Unfortunately, this has been suspended in June 2023.</p>, <p>“Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax Policy is an anti-obesity