The federal government has mulled the introduction of a Public Health Tax on products that have high sugar content, cigarettes and products with high alcohol content, and use the proceeds to promote health care programmes for control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD).

This strategy is to ensure that by 2030, Nigeria can reduce mortality, premature death from non-communicable diseases by at least 33 per cent.
Minister of State for Health, Dr Adekunle Salako, who made this known at the 2nd International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa (ICPPA 2025) in Abuja, themed “Advancing implementation of PEN-Plus for Severe NCDs in Africa: Technical Innovations, Operational Insights, and Scalable Solutions”, said the ministry is also working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to pilot the implementation of the Package of Essential NCDs intervention plus (PEN-Plus).

The programme focuses on children and young adults to improve access and quality of care for Type-I Diabetes, Rheumatic Heart Disease and Sickle Cell Disease at the first referral level of healthcare (secondary level care) in the country.

According to the minister, morbidity and mortality from these diseases are increasing at an alarming rate, with a devastating impact on socio-economic development. “These diseases believed to be diseases of the affluent are a growing health concern and increasingly becoming the leading cause of disabilities and premature deaths in Africa region.”

Salako emphasised that Nigeria has been developing policies, action plans for the prevention and control of NCD using the essential package of the WHO, which has now been further deepened with the policy on Pen-Plus, which is focusing essentially on three severe diseases, diabetes mellitus, sickle cell disease, and rheumatic heart disease.

He noted that the essence of this Pen- Plus strategy is to ensure that care, counseling, and prevention services are available at the primary care level such that when people visit primary health care centres, they can get services they need for the management of severe diseases.

Salako noted that the conference was designed to explore collaborative avenues to align PEN-Plus with other existing public health programmes built upon the WHO’s Package of Essential NCD interventions.

Salako explained that the strategy ensures access to quality, integrated and affordable care at the first referral level of care and to strengthen the two-way referral system for these NCDs.

He commended the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) Office for the PEN-Plus strategy and opportunity given to Nigeria to host this conference, as well as the Leona M. and Harry B. Hemsley Charitable Trust (HCT) for supporting the implementation of PEN-Plus.

In his remarks, WHO Afro Regional Director, Prof Mohammed Janabi, said that the burden of severe NCDs is rising across Africa, and this includes diabetes, hypertension, chronic respiratory illnesses and heart conditions.

Janabi stated that without treatment, these conditions are lifelong and often deadly and explained that the Pen-PLUS strategy is an integrated, scalable solution to strengthen first-level referral facilities and access to life-saving services for severe NCDs.

Janabi stressed the need to scale Pen-PLUS to all 47 member states by investing in local health workers and ensuring that care is accessible to those who need it most. He said that the conference is a vital opportunity to share experiences, build momentum and expand what works and close the gap to deliver on the promise of health for all.

Also speaking, Acting Director for NCD, WHO Regional Office, Dr Akpaka Kalu, noted that Nigeria has the highest number of cases, given its population and emphasised the urgent need to deal with the problem of diabetes type 1 in Africa, sickle cell, rheumatic heart disease and other heart diseases in Africa.