To address the growing threat of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria, the African Regional Coordinator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Sustainable Development Goals Tax, Saied Tafida, said Nigeria must adopt and implement fiscal policies that reduce alcohol and tobacco consumption.
The two basic products are part of the main causes of heart and cardiovascular diseases in the country.
The measure, according to Tafida, is essential to safeguard public health and strengthen the health system against the growing burden of preventable diseases.
He said this on Tuesday while speaking at the Gatefield Health Summit 2024, the theme of which is: “Beyond 65: Preventing the Silent Epidemic.”
The event aims to highlight the overlooked non-communicable disease epidemic and bring together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to explore innovative solutions to the growing threat of NCDs.
According to Tafida, around 30 percent of deaths in Nigeria are caused by non-communicable diseases, which in sub-Saharan Africa account for one in three deaths.
He said globally, NCDs account for 74 percent of global deaths.
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“Fiscal policies have multiple purposes, but health fiscal policy primarily seeks to 'revalue goods and behaviors that have costs that are borne by others or by the consumer in the future,' he said.
Increase taxes on drinks
Tafida said changing consumer behavior away from tobacco, alcohol and other unhealthy substances can help curb NCDs.
He said: “A healthier population works productively and more productive workers mean more revenue from income tax policies for the country.”
Apart from the high consumption of tobacco and alcohol, there are also foods widely consumed throughout the country that increase individual chances of suffering from one NCD or another.
Unhealthy foods high in trans fats and sugar are major contributors to non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. Processed foods, sugary drinks and fast food are particularly harmful, increasing the risk of obesity, high cholesterol and insulin resistance.
Diets low in fruits, vegetables and whole grains also contribute to the development of these diseases. These conditions account for 27 percent of all annual deaths in the country, equivalent to approximately 447,800 lives lost each year, Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Muhammed Pate, had previously revealed.
Muhammad Pate (PHOTO CREDIT: @muhammadpate
Speaking on this, Gatefield Chief Strategist, Adewunmi Emoruwa, recommended increasing taxes on sugary drinks.
He said this would reduce the rapidly changing demographic profile of NCDs, and our health systems must adapt to meet this challenge – the production and overconsumption of high-sugar beverages and beverages.
“Increasing consumption of sugary drinks is an important step. Currently, Nigeria has increased sugary drinks by 10 percent, but this is not enough. It should be increased to at least 30 percent.
“We also need laws that prohibit or control the trade and advertising of vaping,” he said.
Develop an insurance plan
Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of the National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA), Olufemi Adeoye, said national authorities need to increase their investment in the prevention of NCDs among the country's population and develop the insurance scheme.
He noted that the demographic profile of NCDs is changing from the elderly population to the youth and younger citizens, adding that health systems must adapt to meet this challenge.
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Adeoye said: “It is clear that prevention must take center stage. Investing in prevention today will save lives tomorrow, ensuring that more people live well beyond age 65, in good health and with access to the care they need.
“But it's not just about policies and systems: it's about people. “These are families losing loved ones too soon, communities deprived of their elders, and countries facing shrinking workforces due to preventable diseases.”
