The National Action on Sugar Reduction (NASR) suggests that funds generated from sugary drink taxes could be used to support cancer care in Nigeria, potentially lowering the mortality rate associated with the disease.
The coalition, in a statement signed by its representative, Omei Bongos-Ikwue, to commemorate the 2024 World Cancer Day said some of these deaths can be prevented by more equitable access to care.
Mrs Ikwue stated that globally, millions succumb to cancer each year, with approximately 125,000 new cancer cases annually in Nigeria, resulting in about 72,000 deaths.
She said an important risk factor for cancer is lifestyle factors, including physical activity and diet, noting that excess consumption of sugary beverages is linked to increased cancer risk, in addition to other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
Quoting the World Cancer Research Foundation, she said sugary beverage consumption increases the risk of at least 12 different types of cancers.
“With these staggering cancer statistics, this year’s World Cancer Day presents the opportunity for the Nigerian government to accelerate action on taxing sugary drinks to reduce consumption and, ultimately, save lives,” she said.
She said the growing burden of cancer translates to heightened demand for cancer care services.
Mrs Ikwue noted that a comprehensive framework for taxing sugary beverages and allocating tax funds to healthcare can contribute to public funds available for accessing cancer care.
Expressing concern, she noted that the diagnosis of cancer often leads to overwhelming out-of-pocket expenses, pushing individuals and their families perilously close to poverty.
She also emphasized the global consensus supporting the idea that universal health coverage is more sustainably and equitably funded through public rather than private means.
“Important financing opportunities have arisen through prohealth taxes,” she said.
World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day is an international day marked yearly on 4 February to raise awareness of cancer and encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.
Between 2022 and 2024, the focus of World Cancer Day is to help “Close the cancer gap.”
This year marks the third and final year of the campaign. The theme for the 2024 World Cancer Day is “Together, we challenge those in power”.
Cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body and/or spread to other organs.
According to the WHO, cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths, or one in six deaths, in 2018.
Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach, and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men, while breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, and thyroid cancer are the most common among women.