The Nigerian federal government says it is committed to attain the global best practice of nearly 20 per cent taxation on the final retail price on all sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).
With non-communicable diseases believed to be the leading cause of death in Nigeria and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, evidence-based interventions are being recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The WHO assembly has endorsed a package of 16 evidence-based interventions focusing on addressing non-communicable diseases risk factors including tobacco, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity and unhealthy diets.
Chukwuma Anyaike, a director at the federal health ministry, claims that the Nigerian campaign aligns with other government efforts to improve public health. “These taxes are considered to have the potential to reduce NCDs while advancing health equity,” he said.
Successful outcomes elsewhere are all the result of alignment with other policies and from using the tax collected to assist further health improvements and preventative measures.
Advocacy Action: Does your country have a sugar tax and is it part of an integrated policy, including ring fencing the tax for improved health outcomes?