NCDs: NCCK Pushes for Marketing Restrictions
The National Council of Churches of Kenya, in partnership with the Africa Population Health and Research Center, has urged the Parliamentary Committee on Education to legislate restriction of marketing of unhealthy foods targeting children.
“Unhealthy diet is the primary risk factor leading to diagnosis of Non Communicable Diseases”, Rev Dr Elias Otieno Agola, the NCCK Chairman, explained when presenting a memorandum to the Committee at Parliament.
“Unhealthy foods marketing is very high, and include 48% of foods advertised around schools, 60% of foods advertised in retail stores, 80% of foods advertised on TV, 53% of foods advertised on radio, and 88% of foods advertised on social media”, explained Dr Gershim Asiki, the head of Chronic Diseases Management Unit at the APHRC.
The NCCK noted that marketing of unhealthy foods targets children due to their pester power through which they influence the foods their parents purchase.
The Committee, chaired by Mandera South Member of Parliament Hon Abdul Haro, recognized the need to safeguard children’s health and nutrition in view of the rise in cases of NCDs.
“The Committee will has received these the proposals to have the Basic Education Act to be amended. We will consider them and take input from other stakeholders and make our recommendations to Parliament,” Hon Haro informed the NCCK team.
In their memorandum, the NCCK are proposing that the Basic Education Act is amended to mandate the Cabinet Secretary to regulate food and nutrition matters affecting learners in school. This will obligate the Cabinet Secretary to develop regulations on marketing of foods in and around schools and other places children frequent.
During the session, the NCCK presented proposals for review of provisions on the role of churches in the schools they have sponsored. The Committee requested for further consultations on the proposals.
