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A public health consultant at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr. Francis Fagbule, has stated that soft drinks, also known as sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), are significant factors in the rising risk of high blood pressure (HBP) among Nigerian children and adolescents.
Fagbule made this revelation on Monday in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, while delivering a presentation during a journalism training on the topic of 'Effective SSBs Tax and Industry Monitoring', organized by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
He pointed out that there has been a significant rise in cases of high blood pressure in Nigeria over the past twenty years, with a five percent increase in urban areas and a two percent increase in rural areas.
During her opening speech, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, the Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, highlighted that non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases have become a major public health issue both globally and in Nigeria.
Dr. Ifeoma Nwadiuto, representing Oreh at the Rivers State Ministry of Health, revealed that non-communicable diseases contribute to 30 percent of annual deaths in Nigeria.
She emphasized that diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are now a major public health issue globally and in the country. Shockingly, 41 million people die from non-communicable diseases each year, with Nigeria accounting for 30% of these deaths.
"It is crucial to tackle the underlying reasons for these avoidable illnesses using this data. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are often the outcome of prolonged exposure to unhealthy lifestyles and diets, resulting in years of disability-adjusted living."
"Sugary beverages, commonly known as soft drinks, are non-alcoholic drinks with high sugar content.
The excessive sugar in these beverages can lead to a rapid increase in blood sugar levels, posing a risk for various health issues such as obesity and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Dr. Vetty Agala, the acting executive secretary of the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Program (RIVCHPP), emphasized in her keynote speech that addressing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages could potentially reduce the country's death rate by 30 percent."
