The West African Institute of Public Health (WAIPH) has issued a compelling call for the integration of technology solutions to address Nigeria's escalating crisis of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension and diabetes. This urgent appeal came during the institute's 10th anniversary celebration and the induction ceremony of the Academy of Public Health in Abuja, supported by the Lisedel Legislative Institute.
Economic Conditions Fuel Health Crisis
Dr Francis Ohanyido, the Director General of WAIPH, highlighted the direct connection between Nigeria's deteriorating economic conditions and the rising cases of NCDs among citizens. He emphasized that lifestyle-related factors are driving this alarming trend, with younger Nigerians increasingly suffering from conditions like stroke and hypertension that were previously associated with older age groups.
"This is a rising problem as younger people are getting afflicted by stroke, and it is more preponderant because of lifestyle," Ohanyido stated. "People don't exercise the way they should. If you check the blood pressure of people on the street, you will find that many fall into windows of hypertensive disorders."
Technology as Transformative Solution
The WAIPH leader stressed that technology could revolutionize how Nigeria approaches NCD prevention and management. He specifically pointed to digital tools' potential in health promotion, disease management, and patient support systems.
"Technology also plays a role in how we're able to put out health promotional information so that people understand their conditions and how they're being managed, even if it's just a reminder to take their drugs," Ohanyido explained.
During his keynote address titled "The Silent Epidemic: How NCDs are Threatening Africa's Development," Prof. Mohamed Janabi, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, delivered sobering statistics about the NCD crisis. He warned that NCDs are advancing at such a rapid pace that they are projected to overtake communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutrition-related diseases by 2030.
Alarming Statistics and Economic Impact
Janabi revealed that NCDs accounted for 35.4 per cent of all deaths in Africa in 2021, a significant increase from 21 per cent recorded in 2000. The primary drivers of this trend include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and mental health conditions.
"This is a silent epidemic affecting individuals, families, economies, and health systems across Africa, yet the story of NCDs often remains hidden in clinic records, household finances, and preventable premature deaths," Janabi lamented.
The economic consequences are equally staggering. The WHO regional chief noted that productivity losses linked to NCDs now exceed $1 trillion yearly, creating immense burdens on governments, households, and private sector organizations while slowing progress toward sustainable development goals.
Janabi expressed concern about the inadequate funding for NCD prevention and treatment in Africa, where yearly health expenditure remains under $30 billion, with less than half coming from domestic sources. This funding gap leaves countries vulnerable to fluctuating external funding and unable to sustain long-term interventions.
The WHO official emphasized the economic wisdom of investing in NCD prevention, stating that every $1 spent on NCD prevention yields $7 in benefits through reduced medical costs and higher productivity.
Nutrition's Critical Role in NCD Prevention
Also contributing to the discussion, Dr Osita Okonkwo, the Country Director of Nutrition International and newly inducted fellow of the African Academy of Public Health, identified nutrition as a major factor driving the NCD epidemic in Nigeria and across Africa.
Okonkwo urged governments at all levels to prioritize investments in providing adequate nutrition for pregnant women and children, warning that early-life nutritional deficiencies significantly increase the risk of developing NCDs later in life.
The consensus among health experts at the event highlighted the urgent need for a multi-faceted approach combining technological innovation, strengthened public health systems, professional capacity building, and nutritional interventions to effectively combat the growing threat of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.
