Sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) are liquids or powders that are sweetened with various forms of added sugar like molasses, brown sugar, white sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, etc.
Some examples of SSBs are soft drinks, kool-aid, juice, and bissap (hibiscus drink). They are so affordable that they’re sold everywhere in our esteemed country: shops, schools, markets, around banks, churches, mosques and even in hospitals.
The stark reality is that SSBs are killing the population of Liberia slowly and silently. The added sugar content leads to tooth decay and cavities, overweight or obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke, kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, some cancers, gout (a form of arthritis), and neurological changes in the brain.
In our opinion, Liberia cannot manage epidemic levels of NCDs because our healthcare system cannot contain the huge numbers of NCD patients.
Our children tend to consume these products on a daily basis, putting their future and that of Liberia at high risk. Remember, our kids are our future leaders.
Fellow citizens, kindly heed to our call to avoid intake of sugar-sweetened beverages in order to be NCD-free, remain healthy and be more productive.
