Stakeholders raise concern as non-communicable diseases claim 684,000 Nigerians

The recent report that over 684,000 Nigerians die from non communicable diseases, NCDs, annually, is a source of concern.

Non communicable diseases are diseases that are not contagious. Most Nigerians have been battling with communicable or infectious diseases like cholera, Human Immuno Virus, HIV, tuberculosis among others. Such diseases have, however, attracted public attention as they are always in the news.

But, not many pay attention to the non communicable diseases.

However, the staggering number of casualties of non communicable diseases was brought to the front burner by the Lead Strategist of Gatefield, Adewunmi Emoruwa, in Abuja recently at a two-day health summit organised by Gatefield.

Speaking at the summit entitled, “Beyond65: Preventing the Quiet Epidemic,” Emoruwa decried the devastating negative impacts of non communicable diseases, which he said claims over 684,000 lives annually in Nigeria.

He said: “NCDs are responsible for over 684,000 deaths annually in Nigeria. This is equivalent to wiping out an entire population of Luxembourg every single year. This preventable crisis can no longer be ignored.”

He revealed that the NCD-related deaths in Nigeria have increased from 24 percent in 2010 to 29 percent at present. Gatefield, also launched a new health strategy to tackle the growing crisis of NCDs in Nigeria, where life expectancy averages just 52 years.

Listing what he described as the driving factors for the NCDs’ quiet epidemic, Emoruwa attributed the crisis to the dangerous rise of unhealthy diets such as foods and beverages containing added-sugars, excessive salt consumption, alcohol and tobacco use, and environmental pollution.

He said Nigerians consume 4.9 servings of sugary drinks per week, nearly double the global average. Salt intake is dangerously high at 5.8 grammes per day, above the World Health Organisation, WHO, recommended level.

“Nigeria has a high prevalence of heavy episodic drinking at 27.3 percent, and without intervention, smoking rates in Africa are projected to rise by 30 percent by 2030

“Around 48 million Nigerians are not physically active enough, increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease,” he said.

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.

In order 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.”

Professor Anthony Ugwu of the Radiography Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, also described non communicable diseases as those diseases that cannot be transmitted from one person to another.

He also cited diabetes, hypertension and arthritis among others as examples of such diseases.

He equally spoke on what the role of the Government and individuals should be in ensuring that the trend is halted.

“The figure can be reduced when individuals live a good lifestyle, including abstaining from excessive intake of alcohol, smoking, as well as engaging in regular exercises; that is on the side of the individual.the government can also address the situation by organising regular health talks and programmes to enlighten people on health protective behaviours.

On the implications of the scourge to the nation’s health sector, he noted that apart from losing quite a number of productive Nigerians that could have contributed to the economic growth of the country through their human resources, there would also be an increase in poverty level of the populace.

He said: “The implication is that there will be increased poverty because of increased healthcare cost and low productivity due to ill health.”