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Table 5 Mauritius scorecard for core NCD population-based interventions

From: Assessing health system challenges and opportunities for better noncommunicable disease outcomes: the case of Mauritius

Policy option

Comments

Rating

Antismoking interventions

 Raise tobacco taxes

Taxes on tobacco have increased on a regular basis. Currently, tobacco excise taxes constitute 57% of retail price compared to the WHO benchmark of 70% in 2016 [44].

Moderate

 Provide smoke-free environments

Comprehensive smoke-free law passed and implemented; except for demarcated smoking areas in workplaces [44, 49]. Enforcement is a problem particularly in the hospitality sector.

Moderate

 Issue warnings on the dangers of tobacco and tobacco smoke

Pictorial warnings covering 65% of packet size and the old set will be replaced very soon by a new set [44].

Extensive

 Implement effective mass media campaigns that educate the public about the dangers of smoking/tobacco use and second-hand smoke

Regular anti-tobacco campaigns by MOHQL [44].

Moderate

 Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship

Bans on all tobacco advertising and promotion (including at points of sale) and are well enforced [44, 54].

Extensive

 Provide service for tobacco cessation to all those who want to quit

Cessation clinics in all hospitals providing counselling & nicotine therapy free to all smokers willing to quit. Cessation was the in pipeline but there has been some delay [44].

Moderate

Interventions to prevent harmful alcohol use

 Use pricing policies on alcohol including taxes on alcohol

Almost yearly increases on alcohol taxes follow consumer price index (CPI) and increase in wages [4].

Moderate

 Restrict or ban alcohol advertising and promotion

A full, well enforced ban on alcohol advertising and promotion [4, 55].

Extensive

 Restrict availability of alcohol in the retail sector

Regulations restricting hours of sale exist but there are enforcement problems. Ban on sale in educational institutions [4, 55].

Limited

 Enact and enforce minimum purchase age regulation

The minimum age limit for purchase of alcohol products is 18 years but effective enforcement is problematic [4, 55].

Limited

 Implement a blood alcohol limit for driving

The maximum blood alcohol concentration when driving a vehicle is set at 0.5 g/L. Regular sobriety checks are carried out and there are provisions for severe penalties to those who violate [4, 49].

Limited

 Provide brief psychosocial intervention for persons with hazardous and harmful alcohol use

Pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and counselling available in public health institutions, NGOs assist in rehabilitation of alcoholic patients [4, 49].

Limited

Interventions to improve diet

 Reduce salt intake and the salt content of foods

Salt intake is high (7.9 g/day), a salt reduction programme is in place since 2016 [3, 6, 25, 56].

Limited

 Replace trans fats with unsaturated fats

Amendment to food Regulations 1999 on the level of industrially produced trans fatty-acids in fats and oils is underway [3, 56].

Limited

 Reduce free sugar intake

Taxes introduced on sugar-sweetened beverages [3, 25, 49].

Moderate

 Increase consumption of fruit and vegetables

Some initiatives exist to promote consumption and availability of fruits and vegetables [3, 28]. But affordability could be a problem.

Limited

 Reduce marketing pressure of food and non-alcoholic beverages to children

Regulations for school canteens exist but enforcement is a problem [3, 25, 56].

Moderate

 Raise awareness on diet

Community awareness through TV and radio spots, audio-visual materials, dedicated articles and programmes, and screening activities. Curriculum on healthy lifestyle in schools [3].

Extensive

Interventions to promote physical activity

 Implement communitywide public education and awareness campaign for physical activity

Measures to promote physical activity through public sensitization have been undertaken [3, 49].

Moderate

 Provide physical activity counselling and referral as part of routine primary health-care services through the use of a brief intervention

Physical activity counselling and referral presently not as routine primary health-care services [3, 27, 49].

Limited

 Implement whole-of-school programme that includes quality physical education,

In all schools there are physical education lessons. The school curriculum includes lessons on physical activities. Physical Education is an examinable subject at School Certificate and Higher School Certificate [3, 49].

Moderate

 Provide convenient and safe access to quality public open space and adequate infrastructure to support walking and cycling

There are some initiatives taken to provide adequate infrastructure for physical activity in some regions [3, 49].

Limited

 Implement multicomponent workplace physical activity programmes

Facilities exist at some workplaces [3, 49]. Little progress is noted.

Limited

 Promote physical activity through organized sport groups and clubs, programmes

“Sports for All’ Strategy and Action Plan for Mauritius is forthcoming [26, 27].

Limited