• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
    • Government
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
    • Engr Abba Babagana Dalori

      Engr Dalori Forfeits Galaxy Hospital, Petrol Station, Properties & Cash

      Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

      Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

      ASUU

      Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

      EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General Over N8bn Fraud as Court Sentences…

      PRNigeria logo fearured image

      EFCC Arraigns Ex-Convict, Other for Naira Abuse in Lagos

  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
    • Acting Controller General of Customs, Nigerian Customs Services, NSC, Ag. CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

      Adeniyi Inaugurates Lagos School Renovated by Nigeria Customs 

      Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada

      Customs’ Maiwada Named Among Nigeria’s 50 Most Influential PR Voices

      Acting Controller General of Customs, Nigerian Customs Services, NSC, Ag. CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

      Customs Exposes Scam Over Form M Migration to B’Odogwu Platform

      CBN

      The Facts About Nigeria’s Debts Burden Under Tinubu’s Watch By Zekeri…

      Ibrahim Yahaya Dandakata of Arewa Economic Forum AEF

      AEF Slams CBN’s New BDC Policy, Cites Threat to Northern Economy…

  • National
    • Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB arrested by Nigerian security services

      Nnamdi Kanu’s Threat to Break Up Nigeria Was Deliberate, FG Insists

      NUJ election

      NUJ Urges Constitutional Backing for Journalists, Proposes Media Bailout Fund

      Tinubu Appoints IBB’s Son as Chairman, Bank of Agriculture, Names Heads…

      Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Customs Boss

      In Rivers, Customs Hands Over N20.5bn Worth of Fake Drugs to…

      Military Troops in Action

      COUNTER-TERRORISM OPERATIONS: Troops Arrest Terrorists Collaborators, Eliminate Scores, Seize Weapons, Rescue…

    • Government
      • IPRA GWA

        IPRA Calls on UN to Curb Misinformation from AI and Social…

        Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB arrested by Nigerian security services

        Nnamdi Kanu’s Threat to Break Up Nigeria Was Deliberate, FG Insists

        NUJ election

        NUJ Urges Constitutional Backing for Journalists, Proposes Media Bailout Fund

        Tinubu Appoints IBB’s Son as Chairman, Bank of Agriculture, Names Heads…

        Late President Muhammadu Buhari

        Critique of Renaming University of Maiduguri after Muhammadu Buhari By Dr…

  • Security
    • Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB arrested by Nigerian security services

      Nnamdi Kanu’s Threat to Break Up Nigeria Was Deliberate, FG Insists

      Nigerian Police Force

      Benue Police Nab Notorious Arms Traffickers, Recover Rocket Launcher, AK-47 Rifles,…

      Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Customs Boss

      In Rivers, Customs Hands Over N20.5bn Worth of Fake Drugs to…

      Military Troops in Action

      COUNTER-TERRORISM OPERATIONS: Troops Arrest Terrorists Collaborators, Eliminate Scores, Seize Weapons, Rescue…

      Lord Jonathan Marland, Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), and Ministry of Defence Perm Sec Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda

      UK-Nigeria Pact to Drive Defence Innovation, Joint Ventures

  • Features
    • Late President Muhammadu Buhari

      Critique of Renaming University of Maiduguri after Muhammadu Buhari By Dr…

      Late President Muhammadu Buhari

      Buhari’s Shocker: I look Forward to Leaving, and when it’s …

      Buhari: The Soldier Who Couldn’t Conquer Democracy By Umar Farouk Bala

      Gen Lucky Irabor and Muhammadu Buhari

      Beyond the Public Gaze: Gen Irabor’s Intimate Farewell to Buhari

      Vice Admiral Awwal Z Gambo and Late President Muhammadu Buhari

      Tribute to the Late Former President Buhari, By Vice Admiral Awwal…

  • State
    • IPRA GWA

      IPRA Calls on UN to Curb Misinformation from AI and Social…

      Nigerian Police Force

      Benue Police Nab Notorious Arms Traffickers, Recover Rocket Launcher, AK-47 Rifles,…

      Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Customs Boss

      In Rivers, Customs Hands Over N20.5bn Worth of Fake Drugs to…

      Nigerian Navy

      Navy Hands Over Seized 1,575kg of Indian Hemp to NDLEA in…

      Nigerian Police Force

      Notorious Bandit Kingpin, Abubakar Magaji Arrested in Sokoto, Gun, Ammunition Recovered

  • Event
    • Dr Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan of NCC

      APRA Secretary General Omoniyi Ibietan Named ‘PR Change Maker’

      Prof Saudat Abdulbaqi

      Prof Saudat Abdulbaqi Makes History as First Female Dean of UniIlorin’s…

      Late Oba Sikiru Adetona and Late President Muhammadu Buhari

      Oba Sikiru Adetona: The Day Ijebu Lost Its Lion By Tahir…

      President & Chairman of Governing Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku

      On World PR Day, NIPR Charts Bold Path to National Renewal

      Late President Muhammadu Buhari

      Northwest Governors Mourn Buhari, Declare Tuesday Public Holiday

    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Home Features Diagnosing Nigeria’s Public Health Challenges, By Ya’u Mukhtar
  • Features

Diagnosing Nigeria’s Public Health Challenges, By Ya’u Mukhtar

By
Yau Muktar
-
August 4, 2021
Health Minister, Dr Osagie Ehanire

Diagnosing Nigeria’s Public Health Challenges, By Ya’u Mukhtar

Nigeria is often referred to as the “Giant of Africa” owing to its large population and economy. There are more than 250 ethnic groups speaking about 380 languages with a diverse range of cultural and religious beliefs and practices in Nigeria. In spite of all these strengths, public health challenges have been a nagging problem bedeviling the well-being and stability of the country for a long time.
The major public health issues facing Nigeria are poor sanitation and hygiene, control of vector borne diseases, maternal and infant mortality, infectious and non-communicable diseases, sewage disposal, drug and substance abuse, alcohol abuse, environmental pollution, road traffic injuries, incessant doctors strike among others.

Unless measures are being implemented, Nigerians will continue to die unnecessarily from preventable conditions. The WHO Global Status Report on non-communicable disease listed Nigeria and other developing countries as the worst hit with deaths from non-communicable diseases.

These diseases with a rising burden in Nigeria include cardiovascular disease, tuberculosis, hepatitis, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, sickle cell disease, malaria, asthma, coronary heart disease, obesity, stroke, hypertension, road traffic injuries and mental disorders etc.

According to a report published by the Statistica Research Department, the top 10 causes of death in Nigeria in 2019 are neonatal disorders accounting for 12.25%, Malaria 12%, Diarrhea 11.36%, Respiratory Infections 10.85%, HIV/AIDS 5.18%, Ischemic Heart Diseases 4.37%, Stroke 3.98%, Congenital birth defects 3.26% Tuberculosis 2.84% and Meningitis 2.82% respectively. The summation of these ailments alone has accounted for almost 69% death of Nigerians in that particular year!

Also, as of 2021, the life expectancy at birth in Nigeria stands at about 60.87years. More specifically, this figure equaled to 59 years for males and 63 years for females. It is not encouraging that this Nigeria’s figure is among the lowest in Africa as well as in the world.

Nigeria has one of the highest Tuberculosis burden in the world (311 per 100,000) resulting in the largest burden in Africa. Worse still, the country is frequently being hit with myriads forms of infectious diseases on occasional basis. Notable among is the ongoing pandemic due to COVID-19 outbreak which emanated from China towards the end of 2019. Others include Lassa fever, Monkeypox and Ebola virus.
Nigeria, being an attractive destination for commerce, is therefore not isolated from global pandemics which occur with some degree of unpredictability. Despite these occurrences of outbreak, there has not been an effective and efficient emergency response and disease prevention system in Nigeria to tackle these issues.

Commendably, Nigeria’s prompt and robust response to the Ebola outbreak of 2014 in West Africa remains a watershed in the management of public health emergencies in the world. This was done by using surveillance and isolation of contacts to limit the spreads and few months later, the outbreak was contained and was branded a “remarkable success story” by the World Health Organization.
Same efforts are currently being applied on the current COVID 19 pandemic in addition to vaccination and tremendous successes were recorded as revived patients are being discharged on regular basis.

Read Also:

  • IPRA Calls on UN to Curb Misinformation from AI and Social Media
  • Nnamdi Kanu’s Threat to Break Up Nigeria Was Deliberate, FG Insists
  • ‎FACT-CHECK: Was Obi Ever Pictured Having Coffee with Gen Sani Abacha at the Presidential Villa?

Furthermore, the combination of meningitis and tuberculosis also present threat to Nigerians as these duos of bacterial infections are responsible for about 5% death of Nigerians annually.

As a highly contagious bacterial disease, meningitis usually flares up in concentrated outbreaks in Nigeria such as in the April 2017 epidemic which culminated the lives of over 1000 people.

The Nigerian health sector is currently facing significant challenges which include, among others an uncompleted agenda on the containment of infectious disease, as well as the rapid and on-ongoing emergence of non-communicable diseases.

While there is shortage of health workers as a result of economic and social brain drain. It has been estimated that there are only about 27 physicians per 100,000 people in Nigeria as against the WHO’s recommendation of 1 physician to 600 people. These multifaceted challenges are compounded by arisen economic policies, socio-political factors in the country history and limited institutional capacity to provide efficient responses at a population level.

More so, lack of commitment on the part of the government, especially during military rule has helped a lot in worsening the fragile sector again.
Furthermore, there is no equitable distribution of human resources between urban and rural area. Over 70 percent of doctors are concentrated in urban areas where only 51% of the population reside, thereby leaving 49% of the population who live in the rural area at the mercy of inadequate health personnel.

According to the latest version of National Security Strategy 2019, a document released by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the global trends of anti-microbial resistance and substance abuse exacerbated by influx of counterfeit drugs also remain a potent threat to Nigeria. This phenomenon is further reinforced by the activities of fake drug cartels and globalized criminal networks which eventually breed drugs and substances abuse.

The primary health care on which the Nigerian health care system is based has not helped in effectively solving the numerous health problems in Nigeria. Cost effective interventions for priority public health issues such as non-communicable diseases, injuries, maternal and child health etcetera are hardly being used.

In addition, inter-sectoral cooperation and collaboration between the different health-related ministries still remains a major issue. This has no doubt plays a critical role in sabotaging the effort of health care delivery in Nigeria.  In this regard, Nigerian government should in collaboration with other International Health Institutions do the needful to provide efficient and effective health care delivery system in Nigeria.

Therefore, Government should improve its plan on tackling the major public health issues i.e. HIV/AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria which still remain the major health issues in the country.

Subsequently, construction of additional medical centers especially in remote areas and rehabilitating the existing ones should be of utmost priority. Recruitment of more medical practitioners and providing conducive working atmosphere will also go a long way in solving lingering public health issues facing the country.

In the event of curtailing drug abuse incidences, Government should continue to promote the ideals of International Health Regulations (IHR) while working with relevant agencies to curb the spread of fake or expired drugs and their subsequent abuses.

Ya’u Mukhtar writes from Madobi, Kano State
[email protected]

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Diagnosing Nigeria’s Public Health Challenges
Previous articleGombe Job Scammers, Port-Harcourt Oil Thieves Go to Jail
Next articlePHOTO: Abducted Chibok Girl, Terrorist-Husband Surrender to Nigerian Troops
Yau Muktar
Yau Muktar
http://www.PRNigeria.com

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Late President Muhammadu Buhari

Critique of Renaming University of Maiduguri after Muhammadu Buhari By Dr Umar Ardo

Late President Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari’s Shocker: I look Forward to Leaving, and when it’s time, I go to my Grave By Femi Adesina

Buhari: The Soldier Who Couldn’t Conquer Democracy By Umar Farouk Bala

Gen Lucky Irabor and Muhammadu Buhari

Beyond the Public Gaze: Gen Irabor’s Intimate Farewell to Buhari

Vice Admiral Awwal Z Gambo and Late President Muhammadu Buhari

Tribute to the Late Former President Buhari, By Vice Admiral Awwal Z Gambo (Rtd) CFR

Customs boss, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi with NAFDAC DG Professor Moji Adeyeye

Customs, NAFDAC and the Fight that Matters

Late President Muhammadu Buhari

The Passing of a Mighty Warrior by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode

President Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari in his Own Words By Kabir Akintayo

Peller

Fame, Fortune, and Fallout: The Peller Paradox By Haroon Aremu Abiodun

Officers of NSCDC Mining Marshals

Alake’s Verdict on Mining Marshals By Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice

CBN

The Facts About Nigeria’s Debts Burden Under Tinubu’s Watch By Zekeri Idakwo Laruba

Governor Charles Soludo and Governor Dikko Radda

Soludo and Radda’s Candid Confessions on Homegrown Terror By Tahir Ahmad

Recent Posts

  • IPRA Calls on UN to Curb Misinformation from AI and Social Media
  • Nnamdi Kanu’s Threat to Break Up Nigeria Was Deliberate, FG Insists
  • ‎FACT-CHECK: Was Obi Ever Pictured Having Coffee with Gen Sani Abacha at the Presidential Villa?
  • NUJ Urges Constitutional Backing for Journalists, Proposes Media Bailout Fund
  • Benue Police Nab Notorious Arms Traffickers, Recover Rocket Launcher, AK-47 Rifles, Ammunition
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
IPRA Calls on UN to Curb Misinformation from AI and Social MediaNnamdi Kanu’s Threat to Break Up Nigeria Was Deliberate, FG Insists‎FACT-CHECK: Was Obi Ever Pictured Having Coffee with Gen Sani Abacha at the Presidential Villa?NUJ Urges Constitutional Backing for Journalists, Proposes Media Bailout FundBenue Police Nab Notorious Arms Traffickers, Recover Rocket Launcher, AK-47 Rifles, AmmunitionTinubu Appoints IBB's Son as Chairman, Bank of Agriculture, Names Heads of Key AgenciesIn Rivers, Customs Hands Over N20.5bn Worth of Fake Drugs to NAFDACCOUNTER-TERRORISM OPERATIONS: Troops Arrest Terrorists Collaborators, Eliminate Scores, Seize Weapons, Rescue Captives Across N'EastAdeniyi Inaugurates Lagos School Renovated by Nigeria Customs UK-Nigeria Pact to Drive Defence Innovation, Joint VenturesCustoms' Maiwada Named Among Nigeria’s 50 Most Influential PR VoicesCritique of Renaming University of Maiduguri after Muhammadu Buhari By Dr Umar ArdoFULL TEXT: President Tinubu Extols Muhammadu Buhari at Special FEC SessionAgain, FG Postpone Recruitment into Paramilitary AgenciesBuhari's Shocker: I look Forward to Leaving, and when it's time, I go to my Grave By Femi Adesina
X whatsapp