By Doris Obinna and Rebecca Samuel
Experts have called for a more holistic and locally informed approach to tackling Nigeria’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), cautioning against focusing on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs)
consumption as the main driver of conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
They stressed the need for comprehensive health strategies grounded in behavioural, environmental, and policy-level interventions at a one-day workshop organised by the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN) in Lagos, themed “Rethinking the NCD Crisis: A Holistic Approach to the Debate in Nigeria.”
Associate Professor at Lagos State University, Dr. Ajibola Arewa, on the topic: “Understanding the many factors behind NCDs,” criticised the singular focus of some international health organisations on sugar-sweetened beverages as misleading.
Citing global benchmarks, he said Nigeria’s average daily sugar intake stands at 21 grams, below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended 25 grams and lower than the U.S. average of 28 grams. “We cannot say the major cause of NCDs is sugar intake alone. Alcohol consumption, physical activity, and poor healthcare infrastructure contribute significantly to the crisis.”
He also decried the failure of Nigerian authorities to fully implement existing health policies due to budgetary constraints and inadequate facilities, which he said continue to overburden tertiary hospitals and weaken early intervention mechanisms.
Dr. Yvonne Olalokun, emphasised the importance of data-driven policy, stating that accurate, transparent, and locally generated data is essential to shape effective health responses. She pointed out that Nigeria faces major gaps in data collection and ICT infrastructure, which hamper decision-making and policy implementation.
While fiscal interventions like taxes on SSBs are part of the broader toolkit, Olalokun noted that equal, if not more, attention should be paid to alcohol and tobacco consumption. “On a personal level, our daily choices unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, smoking, and alcohol abuse are all fuelling the fire,” she said.
Environmental determinants also came under focus. The experts pointed to pollution, inadequate sanitation, and lack of recreational green spaces as significant contributors to the NCD burden, particularly among low-income populations who lack access to healthier alternatives.
Dr. Godswill Iboma called for sustained public health campaigns promoting physical activity, stress reduction, mental health support, and clean energy. “If we can change how people eat, move, work, and live, we will see dramatic reductions in preventable diseases.”
He explained that NCDs differ from infectious diseases as they do not spread between people but arise from prolonged exposure to risk factors. He categorized these risks into behavioral e.g., unhealthy diet, smoking, metabolic such as obesity and high blood pressure, and environmental like pollution and poor sanitation.
In Nigeria, according to him, most prevalent NCDs include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory conditions. Iboma also highlighted a growing concern over chronic kidney disease, often made worse by the use of unregulated herbal treatments and unsafe water practices.
The post NCD crisis: Experts advocate broader strategy beyond SSBs appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
