More than 684,000 Nigerians lose their lives to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) each year, according to a recent report.
Diseases that are not contagious are referred to as non-communicable diseases. A number of contagious or communicable diseases, including cholera, HIV, TB, and others, have plagued the majority of Nigerians. However, because these illnesses are always in the news, they have drawn public attention.
The non-communicable diseases, however, receive less attention.
However, during a two-day health summit that Gatefield organized recently in Abuja, Adewunmi Emoruwa, the Lead Strategist for Gatefield, raised attention to the startling number of deaths from non-communicable diseases.
684,000 Nigerians are killed by non-communicable diseases, stakeholders express alarm
Emoruwa spoke at the summit titled “Beyond65: Preventing the Quiet Epidemic,” when he denounced the terrible consequences of non-communicable illnesses, which he claimed take over 684,000 lives in Nigeria each year.
“In Nigeria, NCDs cause over 684,000 deaths a year,” he stated. This is the equivalent of eradicating the whole Luxembourg population annually. It is no longer possible to ignore this avoidable crisis.
According to him, Nigeria’s NCD-related mortality rate has risen from 24% in 2010 to 29% currently. In addition, Gatefield introduced a new health plan to address Nigeria’s rising NCD epidemic, where the average life expectancy is only 52 years.
Emoruwa listed a number of issues that he said were responsible for the silent epidemic of NCDs, including the alarming increase in poor diets that include foods and beverages with added sugars, excessive salt intake, alcohol and tobacco use, and environmental pollution.
According to him, Nigerians drink almost twice as many sugary drinks as others worldwide, with an average of 4.9 servings per week. Consuming 5.8 grams of salt daily is extremely high and exceeds the WHO’s recommended amount.
Nigeria has a high rate of heavy episodic drinking (27.3%), and smoking rates in Africa are expected to increase by 30% by 2030 if nothing is done.
According to him, “about 48 million Nigerians do not engage in enough physical activity, which raises their risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.”
He said that there was a need to tackle tobacco use, sedentary lifestyle and ensure behaviour change among others.
He said: “NCDs, like cancer and heart diseases, are not death sentences if caught early. But too often, people don’t recognise the signs, don’t get tested, and seek help only when it’s too late.
“The government must invest in messaging. The government shouldn’t wait for the WHO; they shouldn’t wait for the UN. The government needs to bring the money out.”
In her contribution, the Gatefield’s Board Co-chair, Sa’adatu Hamu-Aliyu, said the average Nigerian does not live past the age of 52 and the average African does not live past the age of 64.
She said: “Compare this to Europe, Japan, and Canada, where life expectancy exceeds 80 years. This means that an average person in the developed world is likely to live at least 20 years longer than their fellow humans in low and middle income populations.”
She said Gatefield’s health strategy outlines five key interventions aimed at reducing preventable deaths and improving life expectancy.
“They are fixing our national diet, taking down tobacco, and supporting mental health among others.”
She added that Gatefield’s strategy would push for policies that encourage routine screenings, public health education, and stronger enforcement of regulations on ultra-processed foods, sugar sweetened beverages, and harmful substances like tobacco and alcohol.
On solutions to addressing the issue, the former Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Babatunde Irukera, called for a robust government’s policy.
“A robust policy and structure will be a combination of hard and soft infrastructure in the forms of both physical structures such as facilities and equipment, and soft ones such as sufficiently trained human capital who recognise their roles and obligations as caregivers and institutions to ensure accountability,” he said.
Throwing more light on the subject of discussion, Dr. Uche Okenyi of Nova’s Place Hospital, Festac, Lagos, further described non communicable diseases as chronic non transmittable diseases which can manifest as a result of genetics, environmental factors, lifestyles, among others.
He gave examples to include but not limited to hypertension, asthma, cancer, sickle cell diseases, stroke, among others.
“These types of diseases contrast with diseases which can be transmitted from person to person, for example cholera, tuberculosis, HIV, among others,” he added.
He offered insight into how the 684, 000 annual death figure can be reduced.
He believes that if the number of annual deaths from non communicable diseases in Nigeria must be reduced drastically, both the government and individuals have roles to play.
He told DAILY POST: “To reduce the increase of these kinds of diseases, the government needs to aggressively enlighten people on the factors that can predispose to the development of these conditions.
“The government also needs to create the enabling environment that will enable individuals and families to thrive and be empowered in order to eat and live right.
“For the individuals, lifestyle changes are paramount, including avoiding alcohol, smoking, physical inactivity and overindulgence. It is also important that people marry right in the case of sickle cell.”
He noted that the cost implications are very heavy on the government, adding that it puts a big strain on the government’s budgets on health.
He said: “For the health sector, the burden and cost of care for non communicable diseases is prohibitive, from diagnosis to initial stabilization, then follow up and maintenance.
“Tests reagents, diagnostic equipment, drugs and possible surgical interventions for cases like brain clot from severe hypertension or regular blood transfusion for people with sickle cell diseases are expensive.
“These can overstretch the budgets for the health sector leading to paucity of funds to run regular services. This affects the remuneration of health workers, leading to incessant strikes by healthcare workers, and ultimately worsening the situation.”
684,000 Nigerians are killed by non-communicable diseases, stakeholders express alarm
According to Professor Anthony Ugwu of the Radiography Department at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, non-communicable diseases are those that are not contagious.
He also mentioned a number of such conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis.
He also discussed the role that both the government and individuals should play in putting an end to the trend.
On the one hand, the number can be decreased when people lead healthy lifestyles, which include avoiding excessive alcohol use, quitting smoking, and exercising frequently.
The government may also address the issue, he said, by holding frequent health lectures and programs to educate the public on healthy habits.