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 | 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 |