CV
Manu is a Dental Surgeon with more than 15 years of global experience of working in different health systems. He is currently working as Professor of Dental Public Health at Queen Mary University of London and Head of Health Policy at Public Health Foundation of India. He has a PhD in Epidemiology and Population Health from University College London and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Glasgow.
His research focuses on risk factors for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), especially tobacco cessation. Throughout his career, Professor Mathur has been an advocate for the Universal Health Coverage philosophy and is in the top 2% of impact making public health researchers globally.
Manu is a Commissioner on the Lancet Commission on Global Oral Health and President of the Global Oral Health Inequalities Research Network of International Association for Dental Research
Sugar Advocacy in India: Learning from the Past - Paving the Way for Future
Excessive sugar consumption is associated with a number of oral health disorders. This is increasingly becoming problematic in sugar producing low and middle income countries where cultivation, production and consumption of sugar is mimicking tobacco. This talk will be shedding light on the historical production and consumption trends of sugar in India which is the second largest producer of sugar. The talk will highlight the current policy and programme discourse, the tensions affecting the sugar control movement and the current research and advocacy initiatives. The talk will end with suggesting a future research, policy and programmtic strategy to reduce sugar consumption in low and middle income countries and the critical role that National Dental Associations can play in realising this vision.
Learning objectives
- Understanding the historical trends in sugar consumption in India
- Undertaking a deep dive on research and advocacy efforts to reduce sugar consumption in India
- Assessing and outlining future research, policy and programmatic priorities for reducing sugar consumption in India and other LMICs specifically focusing on the role of NDAs