In a concerted effort to enhance public understanding of Nigeria’s tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) in collaboration with the Institute of Church and Society (ICS), hosted a one-day enlightenment workshop for religious leaders on February 16, 2024, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The event featured a variety of learning sessions that empowered participants with vital knowledge and advocacy skills necessary to communicate the benefits of the SSB tax within their congregations and communities. Drawing the active participation of 27 religious leaders from diverse denominations across Nigeria’s southwestern states, the workshop underscored the influential role of the faith community in health advocacy.
In his welcome remarks, Rev’d Kolade Fadahunsi, Director of the ICS Ibadan Branch, emphasized the importance of engaging religious leaders in public health advocacy and leveraging their reach to foster heightened public awareness about the risks associated with consuming sugary drinks and their contributory roles to the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). He highlighted that the ICS comprises 13 denominations across the country and brings together religious leaders of different faiths. As such, the ICS presents a vital platform for mobilizing nationwide support for the SSB tax.
Speaking on behalf of Akinbode Oluwafemi, the Executive Director of CAPPA, Abayomi Sarumi, Program Manager at CAPPA, also noted the critical role of religious stakeholders in driving public health awareness at the grassroots level and steering the nation toward a healthier future.
Dr. Francis Fagbule from the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan provided an interesting presentation on SSBs and NCD Burden in Nigeria. He elaborated on the direct correlation between SSB consumption and the surge of NCDs in the country, pointing out the adverse effects of sugary beverages and their role in predisposing individuals to diseases like diabetes and stroke. Contrary to the belief that only affluent individuals consume SSBs, Fagbule noted that consumption spans all income levels, with marketing strategies often misleadingly targeting children and young adults. He advocated for a pro-health tax to protect public health and enhance national productivity, flagging the urgent need to address the excessive intake of unhealthy beverages and its impact on the public workforce.
In an insightful presentation titled Reflection on Non-Communicable Diseases: Impacts on Religious Community, Dr. Olaotunyombo George, also from the University College Ibadan, shared compelling real-life stories of patients battling the extreme effects of NCDs, such as having to undergo the amputation of their feet and legs. These narratives served to demonstrate the broader spectrum of health complications intertwined with NCDs.
Dr. George also provided a comprehensive overview of NCDs, categorizing them as chronic conditions that include neurological disorders, diabetes, obesity, kidney diseases, and dental issues, each significantly affecting individual well-being. He further differentiated between non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors that contribute to the onset of NCDs. Non-modifiable factors, such as age, gender, family history, and race, are inherent and uncontrollable, predisposing individuals to various chronic disorders. In contrast, modifiable risk factors — including levels of physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and dietary habits — are within an individual’s control and significantly to the development of NCDs. Dr. George concluded his presentation with an action call for people to adopt lifestyle modifications that curtail unhealthy dietary practices and the consumption of sugary drinks.
Abayomi Sarumi’s presentation focused on Who Benefits from Health Tax, and provided a comprehensive overview of the SSB tax in Nigeria, highlighting its advantages and the path towards sustainable policy implementation. Posing the rhetorical question: what is the alternative for good health? Sarunmi leveraged real-life stories to vividly depict the health constraints and financial burdens shouldered by victims of NCDs, further compounded by inadequate income support for disease management. Also discussing the impact of urbanization on eating habits, he pointed out the rise in unhealthy food choices driven by commercial influences. Sarunmi underscored the importance of grassroots campaigns, particularly through religious communities, to educate the public on the dangers of SSB consumption, advocating for a bottom-up approach to bolster public health awareness.
The workshop culminated in group discussions, where participants developed short- and long-term plans for advocating for the SSB tax and sensitizing their communities about the dangers of excessive consumption of sugary drinks. These strategies encompassed organizing sensitization programs in schools, engaging religious leaders and organizations, harnessing digital platforms for a broader reach in promoting SSB tax advocacy messages and lobbying for a substantial increase in the SSB tax from N10 to N150 per litre – to significantly alter consumption and buying habits across the populace. As the engaging workshop drew to a close, the participants and religious expressed their appreciation for CAPPA and ICS. They also committed to leading the charge to promote awareness of the SSB tax within their spheres of influence.
