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Ph:DR: To ensure the availability and accessibility of quality, safe and effective health products
The Ministry of Health is the voice of advocacy for the prevention of non-communicable diseases in Benin. He invited around the same table for three days starting Tuesday October 10, 2023, the actors involved in the control of consumer products in Benin. This is thanks to a National Forum on the regulation of unhealthy food products, drinks and tobacco in Benin initiated by the National Program to Combat Noncommunicable Diseases.
“One in four Beninese adults is hypertensive and one in eight has abnormal blood sugar levels. In addition, two thirds of hypertensives and 97% of diabetics are unaware of it and only discover it when there is a serious, often irreversible, complication. This painting painted by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, Dr Ali IMOROU BAH CHABI, is striking.
Health stakeholders, often the last resort when the damage is done, think it is time to save the day by warning about the quality of products intended for consumption. To refine the advocacy and encourage concrete actions, they invited all the stakeholders to this forum in order to decide together on the mechanisms to spare the plates from the drama that is playing out.
From the various speeches delivered at the opening ceremony, it appears that there is unanimity on the close link between the abusive use of certain unhealthy products and non-communicable diseases. For the resident representative of the World Health Organization in Benin Dr Jean Kouamé KONAN, the epidemiological profile of Benin is strongly influenced by non-communicable diseases. “While the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco, foods that are too fatty, too salty or sweet on health are no longer in doubt, the promotion of the consumption of these risk factors, particularly among the youngest, is not weakening. not despite WHO recommendations on advertising targeting them,” he said.
Faced with this worrying health issue, this meeting, according to the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, is of particular interest, which explains his urgent appeal to participants. “We expect pragmatic thinking from you that also takes into account the informal sector, and ‘difficult’ groups such as local alcohol brewers, micro manufacturing industries, street food vendors and online advertisers unhealthy products. It is only by leaving no one behind that we can cherish the dream of a food environment conducive to the prevention of non-communicable diseases. he pointed out.
“When the patient comes to health structures, the damage is done,” alerted the PNLMNT Coordinator, Dr Salmane Ariyoh AMIDOU, who, in his introductory remarks, reiterated the interest of the problem. The forum is hosted in 7 sessions chaired by the Secretaries General of the Ministries of Health, Social Affairs, Agriculture, Interior, Sports, Finance, Commerce and Planning. Researchers, civil society actors, technical and financial partners as well as patient associations also take an active part in the work of this forum on food.
