CAPPA says Death from Non-communicable Diseases Hits 30% Annually in Nigeria
Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano
The Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, has said that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have emerged as a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, accounting for approximately 30% of all deaths annually.
Oluwafemi, disclosed in his welcome Remarks at the Journalism Training on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages SSB) tax and Industry Monitoring held in Kano on Monday.
He said one of the critical factors contributing to the crisis was the widespread consumption of ultra-processed foods, largely driven by the activities of food corporations.
According to him, Nigeria is facing escalating public health crisis which has been on the rise of non-communicable diseases fueled, in part, by dietary factors such as excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods.
“The impact of these practices on Nigeria’s health landscape cannot be overstated, underscoring the urgent need for robust policies and interventions to promote healthier diets and protect the population from the harmful effects of ultra-processed foods.”
He lamented that, “some corporations prioritize profit over public health, aggressively marketing and distributing unhealthy products that fuel the rising burden of NCDs, including diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.”
Oluwafemi, attributed the contributions of the ultra-processed food industry to the crisis food corporations used as a sophisticated web of marketing strategies to lure Nigerians especially children and young adults-into consuming ultra-processed foods that damage their health.
