Health
By Benprince Ezeh
BOSS Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, SGF, has said that in the last couple of decades, deaths from non-communicable diseases especially cardio-vascular diseases, CVDs, (such as stroke and heart attack), cancers, diabetes, chronic respiratory disorders; and most recently mental health disorders have increased at an alarming rate with a devastating impact on the socio-economic development.
Mustapha stated this in an address at the inaugural meeting of National Non-communicable Diseases, NCDs, and governing council in Abuja on Tuesday, December 1.
Mustapha said that the cumulative economic loss due to NCDs between 2011 and 2025 is estimated to be $7 trillion for Low- and Middle-Income Countries, LMICs.
According to the World Health Organization, WHO, NCDs kill 41 million people annually, which is equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally. Each year, 15 million people die from NCDs between the ages of 30 and 69years; over 85% of these premature deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) of which Nigeria is one.
In Nigeria, the 2016 WHO record showed that NCDs account for about 29% of all deaths, of which cardio-vascular diseases lead with 11%. Furthermore, data from NCDC showed that a majority of the COVID-19 deaths were due to NCDs.
According to Mustapha, “The cumulative economic loss due to NCDs between 2011 and 2025 is estimated to be $7 trillion for LMICs. For these reasons, NCDs are now recognized as developmental calamity and the United Nations has listed them as areas of focus in the Sustainable Development Goals. Specifically, SDG 3.4 requires the reduction by 1/3 the premature death from NCDs by 2030.”
Said he: “It is interesting to know that NCDs which were previously not very common in Nigeria and erroneously believed to be diseases of the affluent have now become prevalent due to globalization and demographic transition of diseases. Risk factors that fuel these diseases such as, tobacco use, air pollution, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet laden with salt and Trans-fat, physical inactivity/sedentary life style and obesity are largely avoidable.
“However, it is important to understand that the solution to this menace does not lie in the health sector alone. That is why the WHO recommended Multi-Sectoral Action (MSA) as a key strategy to address the looming NCD epidemic. The purpose of the multi-sectoral action is to ensure that sectoral policies have consideration for health in general and NCD control in particular.
“Consequently, a seven-year National Multisectoral Action Plan on the prevention and control of NCDs in Nigeria was developed by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in collaboration with 12 other Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs); Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs); Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and content technical experts.”
Mustapha said the plan outlined a three-step multisectoral coordination mechanism including the set-up of the National NCDs Governing Council which is the highest and decision-making level of the coordination mechanism for the prevention and control of NCDs in Nigeria.
“I am aware that most members here are signatories to this plan. Therefore, we all have crucial roles to play, and we must do so in harmony for optimum result. Most WHO member nations have already set up frameworks for Multi-sectoral Action for NCD control in their countries and Nigeria must not be left behind in this global initiative,” he said.
According to him, “history beckons on us all to do our best possible to save this generation and generations unborn from the financially devastating, emotionally traumatizing and physically agonizing effects of morbidity and mortality from NCDs. It is expected that henceforth, you will make conscious effort to put in place policies, programmes and activities that address NCD risk factors relevant to your agencies, which will be monitored periodically. I therefore urge you to take your membership in the NCDs Governing council seriously.”
– Dec. 2, 2020 @ 15:19 GMT |
Tags: Non-communicable diseases kill 41m people annually
