Ruby Leo
The Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) yesterday warned that the country would experience an epidemic of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) by 2015.
Speaking during a pre-public launch press conference of its book 'Nigeria Health Review 2010,' in Abuja yesterday, HERFON Chairman, Dr. Ben Anyene, said "5 million Nigerians may die of NCDs by the year 2015, he also said that deaths from diabetics alone is projected to rise by 52% by 2015.
He said: "The economy cost of NCDs in Nigeria in 2005 was $400 million from premature deaths due to heart diseases, stroke and diabetics and by 2015, the economic cost will rise to $8 billion from premature deaths due to NCDs."
According to Anyene, "Deaths from NCDs will increase by 24% by 2015 and deaths from infectious diseases, maternal and peri-natal condition and nutritional deficiencies combined will increase by 6%.
According to him, the rising trends are a threat to Nigeria's national development, adding that the United States of America in 2010 alone spends $76.6 billion on direct and indirect costs related to care for cardiovascular diseases alone.
He pointed out that this calamity can be prevented if "we start now, we can raise a heightened level of awareness around lifestyles choices, regular screening, disease surveillance and pre-emptive management. It will be far less devastating economically and physically than waiting for the full blown manifestation of the epidemic before we act."
He said the book 'Nigeria Health Review 2010' which will be launched in Abuja on Thursday will stimulate national conversations and actions towards the control of the epidemics of NCDs in Nigeria.
The highlights of status of NCDs also indicated the prevalence of childhood obesity by 5%, with more girls affected, adolescent obesity, 3%, with more girls affected, the number of overweight women to rise b y 40% in 2015, while the number of overweight men is also expected to rise to 39% in 2015 from 29% in 2005.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201110110564.html
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