Impose higher taxes on alcohol and tobacco to prevent diseases

Tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed foods, together with physical inactivity, are the biggest risk factors to NCDs. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The world is finally beginning to pay attention to what we have known for years: The most pressing and unaddressed health issues in much of Africa aren't infectious diseases like malaria or HIV, but diseases like diabetes, cancer and hypertension known as noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). And these killers are poised to have a devastating impact on life expectancy across the continent.

With health systems in sub-Saharan Africa ill-equipped to diagnose and treat the coming wave of NCDs, emphasising prevention is paramount. And the most effective way to prevent these major killers is to implement policies - especially taxes - to reduce consumption of harmful products like tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed foods. This is because, together with physical inactivity, they are the biggest risk factors to NCDs.