16,000 Nigerians sign petition to demand diabetes fund from sugary beverage taxes

A group of campaigners said to be over 16,000 have signed a petition urging the Nigerian government to subsidise diabetes treatment and demand allocation of revenue from Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) taxes to subsidise treatment of the disease for vulnerable citizens, affirming that Nigeria currently has the highest diabetes prevalence in Africa, with an estimated 11.2 million people living with the disease.

Penpushing reports that the Health Communications Specialist of Gatefield Nigeria Limited, Omei Bongos, made this known to journalists explaining that the initiative was part of a broader campaign by the National Action on Sugar Reduction Coalition (NASR) for a call to action, which emerged from a weekend of community mobilisation by youth advocates.

The specialist disclosed that the advocates visited households across four states of of the country which include Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, and Abuja, to raise awareness about the health risks of excessive consumption of sugary drinks.

‘The initiative is part of a broader campaign by NASR to utilise pro-health fiscal policies to address the growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria. The petitioners are urging government to direct funds from the existing N10 per liter tax on non-alcoholic, carbonated and sugar-sweetened beverages introduced in 2021 to the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes’, she said.

‘This push aligns with WHO’s recommendations, which advocate for SSB taxes to reduce consumption and curb the rise of chronic diseases linked to high sugar intake, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and cancer’, Bongos added

Penpushing further reports that the health communications specialist pointed out that Nigeria currently has the highest diabetes prevalence in Africa, with an estimated 11.2 million people living with the disease.

The specialist lamented that many of these patients, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, struggle to access necessary treatment, a development which often leads to skipped medications and the use of inadequate alternatives

‘This often leads to skipped medications and the use of inadequate alternatives, heightening the risk of severe complications such as amputation and kidney failure. In Kaduna, one woman shared her story of desperation, revealing that she had to alter her diabetes medication without consulting her Doctor because she couldn’t afford the prescribed dosage. We, the diabetes patients, even the hypertensive patients, want government to help us’

Penpushing also reports that the Project Coordinator in Lagos state, George Adjete, while speaking recounted some of the stories he encountered during mobilisation efforts, which include child suffering from an ailment linked to excessive intake of sugary drinks.

“I met a mother whose child is suffering from an ailment linked to excessive intake of sugary drinks. She (the mother) spent a lot on medical bills. I also spoke to a young man whose parents are both living with diabetes. Their stories were pathetic.”

Penpushing reports that the Project Coordinator expressed concern about the high cost of treatment and its strain on family finances, emphasizing that these stories underscored the critical need for government to take action.

Meanwhile, Gatefield is a team of consultants that employ a mix of strategy, advocacy, and storytelling to drive policy and behaviours aimed at helping people lead better lives.

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