With the decline in the prevalence of many infectious or Communicable Diseases, there has been a steady rise in the burden of Non- Communicable Diseases, also referred to as chronic diseases.
Experts say NCDs are the leading causes of death worldwide. They include heart/cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, chronic kidney and respiratory diseases and are responsible for the majority of NCD-related illnesses and deaths in Nigeria.
The National Cancer Prevention Programme reeled out a frightening statistics that indicates that no fewer than 80,000 Nigerians die from various forms of cancer annually. The World Health Organisation and the International Diabetes Federation report of 2014, says there were 3.9 million Nigerians who were diabetic.
The recent report by Stephen James Stroke Centre of Excellence in Abuja indicates that 168 people die of stroke daily in Nigeria, while 18 stroke cases are recorded every hour. It also indicates that Nigeria records 160,000 cases of stroke annually and that is indeed, worrisome. It underscores the seriousness of the problem of hypertension and the endemic nature of chronic diseases.
Dr. Ebun Bamgboye, the President-elect of the Nigeria Association of Nephrology and Chief Medical Director of St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, says 36.8 million Nigerians (23 per cent) are suffering from various stages of kidney/renal disease in Nigeria.
Details in DAILY POST
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