Nigeria rates high in non-communicable diseases

THE first World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Status Report on Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) has listed Nigeria and other developing countries as the worst hit with death from NCDs.Stressing that the rise of chronic NCDs presents an enormous challenge, Director-General, WHO, Dr. Margaret Chan, stated:  For some countries, it is no exaggeration to describe the situation as an impending disaster, a disaster for health, for society, and most of all for national economies.Chronic NCDs deliver a two-punch blow to development. They cause billions of dollars in losses of national income, and they push millions of people below the poverty line, each and every year, she added.In a statement, WHO said that millions of deaths could be prevented by stronger implementation of measures that already exist.The organisation listed strategies to include the policies that promote government-wide action against NCDs, stronger anti-tobacco controls, promoting healthier diets, physical activity, reducing harmful use of alcohol and improving peoples access to essential healthcare.According to WHO, the Global Status Report on NCDs provides global, regional and country-specific statistics, evidence, and experiences needed to launch a more forceful response to the growing threat posed by chronic NCDs. The report provides advice and recommendations for all countries and pays special attention to conditions in low and middle-income   countries, which are hardest hit by NCDs.Research shows that cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, or 17 million people annually, followed by cancer (7.6 million), respiratory disease (4.2 million), and diabetes (1.3 million).
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