Nigeria faces rising burden of non-communicable diseases

Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has identified non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as one of the country’s fastest-growing health burdens. Speaking in Abuja at a book unveiling organized by the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON), Pate noted that conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, sickle cell disease, cancers, and neurological conditions are increasing due to an aging population and lifestyle changes.

Pate highlighted recent progress in Nigeria’s health reforms, noting that the federal health budget allocation has increased to six percent from previous levels of three to four percent. He reported that the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMI) has reduced maternal deaths by 22 percent and newborn deaths by 10 percent. Additionally, malaria incidence has dropped to 15 percent, the lowest in 20 to 30 years, though HIV, tuberculosis, and maternal mortality remain ongoing challenges.