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Diets in sub-Saharan Africa are changing as more countries advance from low-income to middle-income status. People’s eating habits are shifting from food rich in starchy staples, vegetables and fruits to a more westernised diet high in sugar, saturated fats and oils. This shift to unhealthy foods is fuelling obesity related chronic, noncommunicable conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Preventive measures are more critical than ever to curtail this tsunami that is overwhelming health systems. One area that must adjust is the food and beverage sector in sub-Saharan Africa. The processed food industry is promoting the region as a growth market for its products. ....
Sales of unhealthy foods and beverages in sub-Saharan Africa are skyrocketing. This is leading to an increase in obesity related conditons such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. These diseases are projected to become the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, overtaking communicable diseases like HIV and TB. The economic cost of noncommunicable diseases is immense. They result in significant disability, and can be very expensive to treat. In South Africa, the medical cost of diabetes was R2.7 billion in 2018. But noncommunicable diseases are preventable. The economic and societal impact can be mitigated if governments take decisive action to reduce the availability of harmful products such as unhealthy food, alcohol and tobacco. ....
Rwanda’s health sector has seen many reforms over the past two decades, which have greatly improved public health indicators. Communicable diseases have declined and the maternal mortality rate fell from 1,071 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 210 in 2015. But noncommunicable diseases are a growing problem. Overweight, obesity and associated nutrition related diseases are becoming more prevalent in Rwanda. Globally, the rapid increase in consumption of sugar sweetened beverages has been identified as a major contributor to the rise of obesity and noncommunicable disease such as type 2 diabetes. In several countries taxation on sugar sweetened beverages has emerged as a cost-effective strategy to combat obesity and noncommunicable diseases. Research has shown that people buy and consume sugary drinks less when their price is increased through taxation. ....
The burden of noncommunicable diseases is growing rapidly across sub-Saharan Africa. The conditions, which include obesity and diabetes, are now leading causes of premature deaths. In Zambia, noncommunicable diseases account for 29% of all deaths. The consumption of unhealthy commodities – tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt and fats – is a major risk factor for these conditions. To regulate the availability of unhealthy commodities, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends cost-effective, evidence-based interventions. One such measure is a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. Sweetened beverages are associated with a number of health complications. These include an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other obesity‐related diseases. ....