Did you know that every year, about 41 million (74%) people die worldwide due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs)? These NCDs also result in the annual deaths of about 17 million people before the age of 70 globally, and in Nigeria, they account for 24% of the total deaths that occur annually.
What exactly are non-communicable diseases?
NCDs, also called chronic diseases, are usually long-term diseases that cannot be spread via infection but are typically caused by genetic, physiological, environmental, or behavioural factors. NCDs aren’t specific to an age group, as they can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, or country.
There are four main types of NCDs, which include:
- Cardiovascular diseases, e.g. stroke and heart attacks
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Chronic respiratory diseases, e.g. asthma
One of the leading causes behind the prevalence of NCDs in Nigeria is our lifestyle choices, which involve a dependence on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) such as soda, fruit, and energy drinks.
In 2021, the federal government introduced a sugar tax, also known as the SSB tax, of ₦10 per litre on all carbonated, non-alcoholic and sweetened beverages to discourage the intake of these drinks and fight against NCDs like diabetes and obesity. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the SSB tax raise the price of these drinks by 20% to have a more meaningful impact.
And one of the leading voices in support of increasing SSB taxes in Nigeria is the public strategy and media group, Gatefield.
What have they done so far?
Gatefield is concerned with ensuring adequate health and economic growth in Nigeria. And to create awareness and encourage public support for the increase in SSB taxes, this year they’ll be hosting a health summit exploring the theme: “Taxing Sugary Drinks and Other Fiscal Policies for Healthcare Financing”.
When’s the event?
The health summit will be held on July 25, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. You’ll have a chance to hear the thoughts and opinions of many industry giants, such as:
- Dr Salma Anas, Special Adviser to the President on Health
- Dr Zainab Bagudu, Board Member, Union of International Cancer Control
- Dr Olumide Okunola, Senior Health Specialist, World Bank Group
- Dr Alhassan Umar, President, Nigeria Cancer Society
- Toyyib Abdulkareem, Senior Policy and Campaign Officer, NCD Alliance
- Dr Laz Ude Eze, Founder, Talk Health Real Media Limited
- Prof. Felicia Anumah, Director, Centre for Diabetes Studies, University of Abuja
- Dr Usman Malami, Director General, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment
How to attend the event
If you’re interested in attending the event in person or virtually, you should register here.
