The Federal Government, on Friday, lamented the rising number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including hypertension, heart failure, cardiac arrest, stroke, and others in the country.
The government noted that the morbidity and mortality due to CVDs in the country are underestimated because of inadequate awareness, limited screening, and poor data repository.
During the commemoration of this year’s World Heart Day, where he unveiled the Cardiac Emergency Response Box, otherwise known as Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to respond to heart emergencies such as cardiac arrest, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate disclosed that the AEDs would be deployed at appropriate designated high-population areas such as airports.
Pate, who was represented by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said that the statistics from the World Health Organisation show that CVDs are the leading non-communicable diseases, and are the foremost cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. Of these cardiovascular deaths, 85 per cent are due to heart attack and stroke, and over three-quarters occur in low- and middle-income countries.
“The 2018 WHO Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) country profiles show that NCDs accounted for 29 per cent of all deaths in Nigeria with CVDs responsible for 11 per cent of all the NCD deaths. The country profile also shows that the risk of dying prematurely from NCDs in Nigeria is 22 per cent. Premature mortality in this instance is defined as death occurring between ages 30 and 70 years from any of the common NCDs”, he noted.
He said although the ministry is currently conducting the National Steps Survey of NCDs, pockets of studies in Nigeria reports various incidence and prevalence of CVDs such as hypertension at a prevalence greater than 30 per cent, stroke incidence at 25.9 per 100,000 persons per year between 2000 and 2015; coronary heart disease prevalence at 0.7 per cent; rheumatic heart disease, which is a disease of the socio-economically disadvantaged at 27 per 1000 children.
“It is pertinent to state that the morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria are underestimated because of inadequate awareness and health-seeking behaviours as well as limited screening, diagnostic and therapeutic services including poor data repository.
“Given the silent and chronic nature of the majority of cardiovascular diseases, it is important to institute long-lasting measures to prevent, detect, and manage them early to avert complications such as heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and even death,” he noted.
The Minister, however, urged Nigerians to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
“Engage in physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes daily. Some physical activity options include using the stairs instead of the elevator, trekking instead of taking the bus for short distances, and standing up from your seat intermittently to stretch your body. Physical activity relieves stress, keeps you fit, and controls body weight,
“Avoid tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke. Avoid harmful intake of alcohol. Abstinence is the best. Eat a healthy diet containing a minimum of three to five servings of a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables spread over each day. In addition, eat a variety of whole grains, lean meat, fish, peas, beans, and lentils. Limit processed foods, limit salt intake to less than 5 grams (one teaspoon) daily, reduce dietary cholesterol, and avoid industrially produced trans-fats,” he advised.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ms Daju Kachollon, who was represented by the Director of Public Health at the ministry, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike said: “Most of the issues we have with the heart have to do with our lifestyle and eating pattern, and this is causing the death of millions of people globally. We have guidelines and protocols to address this, and we will ensure the implementation of the guidelines and protocols”.
