Health experts have warned that Nigeria’s Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) burden is rising rapidly and could worsen if multi-sectoral strategies are not adopted and fully implemented.
They made this known at a one-day event organized by the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN) in Lagos, themed “Rethinking the NCDs Crisis: Having a Holistic Approach to the Debate in Nigeria.”
Delivering a keynote lecture titled “Understanding the Many Factors Behind NCDs,” public health expert, Dr. Ajibola Arewa, cited World Health Organization (WHO) data showing that NCDs contributed to 24% of total deaths in Nigeria in 2011, rising to 29% by 2021 — a 21% increase within a decade.
Dr. Arewa noted that the trend may continue if urgent attention is not paid to key underlying factors, such as unhealthy lifestyle choices, poor dietary habits, environmental challenges, and the wide doctor-to-patient gap in Nigeria — currently estimated at 1:5000, far below the WHO-recommended 1:600.He criticized singular policy approaches like taxing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), describing such measures as “personal, subjective and lacking in sufficient evidence.”
According to him, “Sugar is not the problem, but its overuse and lack of regulation.”Instead, he advocated public education on nutrition and fitness, clear labeling of food products, support for healthier alternatives, and comprehensive implementation of existing policies.
“What will solve the NCD crisis is full implementation of policies already in place. If that doesn’t happen, our tertiary hospitals will continue to be overburdened,” he warned.
He also urged government support for small businesses during transitions to healthier food production practices and called for tax incentives that promote health-positive policymaking.
Earlier the BJAN President, Mr. Daniel Obi, said the association believes in the power of storytelling, advocacy, and perception management, emphasizing the need for journalists to use their platforms to shape public understanding on critical health matters.
“Our impact is greater when we lend our voices to causes that touch lives, and health is one of the most critical areas,” he said.
He encouraged media organizations to invest in training journalists on socio-economic and health issues to enhance their reporting capacity.
Speaking on the role of evidence-based data in health policymaking, health policy expert Dr. Yvonne Olaloku stressed that data helps identify key health problems and ensures inclusive and equitable policy development.
“It’s not just about formulating policy; we need transparency and accountability to ensure efficient resource allocation and proper implementation that impacts the entire population,” she stated.
Dr. Olaloku also called for greater collaboration among government agencies, researchers, health workers, and policymakers to combat NCDs effectively.
On the topic of “Lifestyle and Environment in NCDs Prevention,” Dr. Godswill Iboma described lifestyle and environmental exposures as major drivers of NCDs.
He recommended: Avoidance of tobacco and smoking in public,
Engagement in regular physical activity,
Reduction of alcohol and salt intake,
Mental health management,
Advocacy for clean energy,
Industrial waste control and air quality improvement.
The President of the Health Writers Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Vivian Ihechu, praised BJAN for organizing the event and emphasized the need for journalists to practice healthy lifestyles and disseminate accurate health information to the public.
“As journalists, we must be mindful of what we eat, find time to exercise, and ensure we are sharing credible, actionable health information,” she said.
The event concluded with a consensus on the need for a multi-dimensional, education-driven, and policy-enforced response to curb the growing threat of NCDs in Nigeria.