The National Action Plan on Sugar Reduction Coalition (NASR) has called on the government to increase taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, staff state health ministries with diabetes desk officers and remove tariffs on diabetes treatment goods.
The coalition made the call, during an exhibition in commemoration of the World Diabetes Day, themed: “Know Your Risk, Know Your Response,” in Abuja. It also advocated for free diabetes screening in public facilities, adding that tax revenue be channeled towards subsidizing diabetes care in the country.
World Diabetes Day is commemorated on November 14, to raise awareness of diabetes as a global public health issue.
President of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, Dr. Mohammed Alkali, who spoke at the event, said this year’s World Diabetes Day underscores the crucial need for action towards preventing the disease and ensuring quality healthcare access.
The event included a panel session moderated by the Director of the Centre for Diabetes Studies at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Prof. Felicia Anumah, who stressed that, given the Nigerian economy, “prevention is the cheapest option”.
Professor Anumah stated that as a result of increased inaccessibility to medicines, “more diabetes complications are impending, more strokes, more kidney failures and more gangrenous limbs,” leading to more amputations.
SOURCE: Leadership
