Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic lung diseases, have remained a major health concern in Nigeria, contributing to a high burden of morbidity and mortality, according to Ayodele Babatunde Omotoso, a professor of medicine at the University of Ilorin.
Speaking during the University’s 272nd Inaugural Lecture, Prof. Omotoso said that tackling Nigeria’s rising NCD burden would necessitate a multipronged strategy, adding that NCDs worsen poverty by raising household health care expenses.
“Treatment of NCDs is often costly and time-consuming, which hinders a country’s economic growth,” he continued. Higher morbidity and death rates are experienced by those who are most vulnerable and socially disadvantaged, as opposed to those with higher social status.”
The inaugural lecturer urged everyone to continue supporting initiatives that promote heart health and address the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), stating that the fight against these diseases is far from over and calling for greater steadfastness in the efforts to combat these diseases through research, education, and community engagement.
In addition to calling for the extension of the National Health Insurance to cover treatments for individuals with NCDs, the professor of heart emphasized the necessity for all levels of government to provide adequate funding and resources to support national programs on prevention and control of NCDs, including research, healthcare infrastructure, and community initiatives.
He said: “Government should fund, equip and support at least one tertiary health facility that can take care of complicated NCDs, encourage private companies to invest in health promotion activities and create workplace wellness programmes that address NCDs risk factors.
“Government should partner with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to implement community-based interventions and support groups for individuals affected by NCDs. They should also collaborate with international organisations to share knowledge, resources and best practices for NCDs prevention and control.”
He further called on government, as well as other stakeholders, to leverage technology and innovation to develop new tools and platforms for monitoring, managing, and preventing NCDs, adding that government should also faithfully implement their new policies on various aspects of NCDs that promote healthy lifestyles, such as regulations on tobacco and alcohol use and initiatives to encourage physical activity and healthy eating.
The inaugural lecturer emphasized the need for national initiatives to increase knowledge of NCD risk factors and prevention techniques while advocating for better access to healthcare facilities, especially in underprivileged areas, to enable early detection and treatment of NCDs.
Prof. Omotoso emphasized the necessity of creating programs that would involve the local community in health education and promotion, with a focus on the prevention and management of NCDs, and urged the University of Ilorin to institute mandatory medical examinations for all employees in order to detect and treat individuals with NCDs early.
