By EricJames Ochigbo
The None Communicable Diseases Alliance, an International NGO, has urged the House of Representatives to dedicate a budget line for hypertension and Non-Communicable Diseases to tackle rising cases in the country.
Prof. Dike Orji, a cardiologist at the University of Abuja, on behalf of the NGO, addressed the House at plenary on Tuesday.
Orji urged the government to recommit to the 15 per cent Abuja Declaration target for health sector funding, with specific provisions for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
Orji, who spoke on behalf of the alliance delegation said that 38.1 per cent of adult Nigerians were suffering from high blood pressure (hypertension).
According to him, it makes it one of the most prevalent health condition in the country yet, awareness, treatment and control remain abysmally low.
The expert also said that prevalence of diabetes in the country was estimated to be around 5.7 per cent of adult population.
According to him, there are higher rates in urban areas when compared to the rural areas, adding that majority of cases were type 2 diabetes, linked to lifestyle factor like poor diet and physical inactivity.
The professor said that studies had shown that about 40 per cent of Nigerians above the age of 18 in the country were prone to hypertension.
The cardiologist recommended the inclusion of hypertension in the National Health Insurance coverage due to high cost of treatment.
He called for support funding and policies for integrating hypertension screening, diagnosis and management into Primary Health Centres (PHC) nationwide.
Orji emphasised the need to strengthen oversight on the implementation of NCD related policies.
He called for the establishment of a Committee on Hypertension and Diabetes as well as, support for relevant MDAs to implement regulations on processed food for excess salt, sugar and industrial trans fatty acids.
Also, Prof. Dike Ojjie, the lead Investigator at the Cardiovascular Research Centre of the University of Abuja, said that the burden of NCDs was soaring in Nigeria like other parts of the world.
He said that cardiovascular ” which is a disease affecting the heart and blood vessels lead the pack with hypertension occurring in over 31 per cent of the adult population and stroke occurring in 29 of every 100,000 individuals.
“NCDs are the leading cause of mortality and sudden death syndrome among Nigeria’s most productive age group which is quite worrisome.
“It has been estimated that 29 per cent of all health-related deaths is due to NCDs and 22 per cent of Nigerian adults die prematurely every year from NCDs.
“It has also been shown from research that 24 per cent of household food expenditure in Nigeria is eventually spent on NCDS’ treatment.
“NCDs especially cardiovascular diseases do not differentiate lawmakers from regular citizens; Infarct, lawmakers usually have more risks compared to regular citizens,” he said.
In his response, the Speaker of the house, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen commended the experts for coming to address the house.
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