Nigeria’s next health crisis may not look like an epidemic
For decades, public-health discussions in Nigeria have been dominated by diseases that are immediately recognisable as emergencies. Malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, cholera and other infectious diseases have understandably occupied much of our attention, alongside the continuing challenge of maternal and newborn mortality. These remain important priorities, but another health burden is becoming…
Nigeria faces a growing health crisis from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which are responsible for a significant proportion of deaths in the country but often receive less urgency compared to infectious diseases. NCDs, such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers, accounted for 28% of all deaths in Nigeria in 2021, with an estimated 18% probability of dying prematurely from these diseases.
Unlike infectious outbreaks, NCDs often progress silently without immediate symptoms, making early detection and prevention crucial. For instance, hypertension affects about 27.5 million Nigerians aged 20 and above, but only a small percentage are aware of their condition, receiving treatment, or have their blood pressure controlled.
Addressing NCDs requires a shift in public-health focus, emphasizing routine screening, affordable treatment, and patient education to mitigate the premature deaths and disability caused by these diseases.
Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Trust's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
