The Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) has urged the federal government to reintroduce the suspended taxation on sweetened beverages and channel the funds to cater for diabetes patients.
Speaking during a free pre-diabetes screening and sensitisation event organised by the association, in collaboration with Gatefield Foundation, for FCT residents in Abuja at the weekend, a consultant physician, diabetologist and the 1st Vice President of DAN, Dr Mansur Ramalan, said about 14 million Nigerians are diabetic and should be catered for by the federal government as a result of the high cost of medications.
He said: “There is this sugary and sweetened beverages taxation that was passed into law by the past administration, but the deductions were stopped in February this year.
“We want the federal government to resume the deductions. Apart from the resumption of taxation, we want the government to use this tax for the benefit of the patients.
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“We are aware that the patients are going through a lot of difficulty because these medications are very expensive.”
Ramalan said about six per cent of the Nigerian population is diabetic, adding: “If you project that to our total population of around 230 million to 240 million people, we’re talking about 12 to 14 million people affected with diabetes.”
Also speaking, the co-chair of the National Action on Sugar Reduction Coalition, Benard Enyia, who is a Type 2 Diabetes patient, said the cost of diabetes medication is very high, calling for the government to intervene.
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