The Reconciliation and Development Association (RADA) has taken a bold step in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Cameroon by organizing a one-day media capacity-strengthening workshop on advocacy for a tax increase on sugary sweetened beverages (SSBs) and unhealthy packaged food products (UPPs).
The workshop, held at the CBC Mvan Resource Center in Yaounde on April 14, 2025, brought together media practitioners to sensitize them on the importance of taxing SSBs and UPPs.
According to Ferdinant Mbiydzenyuy Sonyuy, President and CEO of RADA, taxation is a fiscal policy measure recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to reduce access to unhealthy products. "We are not saying that these products are being stopped for consumption, or that consumption is being completely stopped, we are saying that these products are dangerous to health if consumed in large quantities," Sonyuy emphasized.
Sonyuy highlighted the alarming statistics on the impact of unhealthy diets on health, citing that unhealthy diets are a leading cause of death globally and nationally. "Unhealthy diets are as dangerous and more dangerous than tobacco," Sonyuy stated. "If people are eating too much sugar, unknowingly, we have to take measures to save the people from that particular aspect of their lives."
The workshop featured expert speakers, including Dr Mappa Clarisse, a Public Health Expert, Researcher, and Lecturer at the University of Dschang, who provided a comprehensive context and landscape analysis of SSBs and UPPs in Cameroon.
Prof Ndamsa Dickson, a development economist and Lecturer at the University of Bamenda, delivered a detailed health economic analysis of a tax increase on sugary drinks and unhealthy packaged foods in Cameroon. The President and CEO of RADA also spoke extensively on the importance of taxing SSBs and UPPs in Cameroon, emphasizing the need for collective action to promote healthy lifestyles.
The workshop aimed to equip media practitioners with the knowledge and skills to advocate for a tax increase on SSBs and UPPs. Sonyuy emphasized the importance of media in passing the message to the population, decision-makers, and communities. "We want everybody to be sensitized about the fact that the tax measures...are not meant to hurt the population, they are meant to incentivize the population to change their dietary patterns and make healthier choices," Sonyuy said.
In promoting healthy lifestyles, RADA encourages Cameroonians to opt for healthier alternatives such as 100% natural juices with no added sugar, water, unsweetened teas, natural teas, herbal infusions, or fruit infusions, sugar-free sodas with no added sweeteners, and milk or plant-based milk that is unsweetened.
Journalists who attended the workshop expressed their commitment to advocating for a tax increase on SSBs and UPPs. Amina Akenji, a journalist with The Sun Newspaper, stated that "RADA is known for a good job...They are not just calling on the government to increase the tax, but targeting the companies or industries that refuse to reduce the quantity of those over-sweetened or salty products."
Laurata Pechuqui, the promoter of Community Headline Blog, said that she learned about the impact of unhealthy diets on health and the need for awareness creation. "I did not know that an unhealthy diet could actually cause the death of about 182 Cameroonians weekly and 95000 yearly," Pechuqui stated.
RADA's efforts to promote healthy diets and reduce the consumption of unhealthy products are crucial in addressing the growing burden of NCDs in Cameroon. With the support of the Ministry of Public Health, RADA is confident that this advocacy effort will lead to positive change and a healthier future for Cameroonians.
Ferdinant Mbiydzenyuy Sonyuy, President and CEO of RADA, is a renowned Public Health expert and Health Economist. As President and CEO of RADA, he has been at the forefront of promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing the burden of NCDs in Cameroon. His tireless efforts have earned him recognition as a leading advocate for public health policy and advocacy in Cameroon.
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