Health Minister warns strict penalties for promotion of sugar-high drinks

Minister of Health, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has warned of strict penalties for those who market drinks high in sugar-content to children.

Minister Nazim expressed his concern over promotion of sugary drinks to children and warned of strict penalties to perpetrators during a function held by Diabetic Association of Maldives on Monday night to launch “Diab Maldives Youth Camp” for young men and women with Type 1 diabetes.

He said the ministry was concerned about the promotion of sugary drinks in events participated by school students, and advised against such promotions.

“I appeal for everyone to direct your attention to stop promotion of drinks which have no nutritional value to children, have extremely high in sugar-content and are addictive in any place frequented by schoolchildren and using such drinks in any way to lure children,” said Minister Nazim.

Nazim said the Ministry of Health would take all necessary action within its mandate to stop such marketing campaigns.

He said he wished to solve the issue in line with laws and regulations, and appealed to businesses to pay attention to such laws and regulation for the sake of the future generation.

“It’s my hope to find a solution to the issue via law and regulation. I also hope those involved in commerce will pay attention to the concerns we have raised for the sake of the future of our younger generation,” said Minister Nazim.

Nazim said that health screens on schoolchildren showed 20 percent of children in Grade 1 (between ages of 6 to 7 years) and 14 percent of children in Grade 7 were overweight.

In his speech, Minister Nazim also noted the revolution brought to the health industry by antibiotics, which provides treatment for many communicable diseases.

On the other hand, he warned, spread of non-communicable diseases was on the rise.

“The biggest challenge we face today is the unprecedented rise in non-communicable diseases; leading to health systems across the world – irrespective of whether it’s a rich country, developing country or poor country – having to battle non-communicable diseases,” said Minister Nazim.

Nazim said that diabetes was one of the four non-communicable diseases marked as “serious” by countries across the world.

He said that there were many living with diabetes undiagnosed, and warned that living with diabetes undiagnosed and untreated will lead to direr effects in the long run.

He appealed to all Maldivians to test for diabetes.

The “Diab Maldives Youth Camp” will continue in Bandos Island Resort until December 16.