Nigeria’s Health and Social Welfare Minister on Thursday reaffirmed his commitment to improve the health outcomes of Nigerians towards meeting health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs:3 “Good Health and Well-being.
Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate said non-communicable ailments, like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic piratory diseases, sickle cell and mental disorder threatens public health in the country and accounts for 27% of all anresnual deaths in Nigeria.
“This indicates that approximately 447,800 lives are lost each year and many of which are premature, occurring between the ages of 30 and 70, the Minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom S. mni, at an event tagged “Revitalizing NCDs Prevention and Control in Nigeria – Strengthening Multisectoral Collaboration” said.
The event marked the launch of a series of Pivot National Policy Documents.
The Minister said some of these challenges are exacerbated by demographic and epidemiological transition and adoption of unhealthy lifestyles, such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, poor diets and physical inactivity.
To address these challenges, he said a comprehensive response encapsulated in several key Policy Documents was developed by the Ministry.
“The launch of the documents is a crucial step in the nation’s journey towards a healthier future. They are not just guidelines but, instruments of change that will shape healthcare practices and policies for years to come”, Pate said.
While drawing comparisons of”remarkable successes” recorded by Finland and South Africa in implementing comprehensive NCDs strategies on cardiovascular disease and salt consumption, explaining that the publications are aligned with the government’s broader goals under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), the Minister said by providing evidence-based guidelines and fostering a culture of accountability and excellence, the government is empowering healthcare providers in the country for better deliveries and for communities to take proactive steps towards a healthy living.