Diaspora health professionals warn of looming NCD crisis, urge FG to act fast

… Call for stronger policy, research, prevention strategy astatine NAFTRAPH

By Chioma Obinna

Local and diaspora wellness professionals person called connected the Federal Government to urgently make a coordinated nationalist effect to the increasing load of non-communicable diseases, NCDs, informing that the state risks a full-blown wellness situation if existent trends proceed unchecked.

The telephone was made astatine the opening ceremonial of the 7th Annual International Conference of the Nigerian Association of Foreign Trained Pharmacists, NAFTRAPH, successful Lagos.

The three-day conference, themed “Non-Communicable Diseases successful a Post-Pandemic World: Nigeria’s Perspective and How to Mitigate Disease Ramifications,” brought unneurotic foreign-trained pharmacists, aesculapian professionals, and academics to sermon Nigeria’s readiness to face chronic conditions specified arsenic diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders.

Delivering the keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer of Eralmed Medical Group and Assistant Professor of Medicine astatine Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Dr. Nelson Aluya, described diabetes arsenic “the pandemic earlier the pandemic,” noting that NCDs present airs 1 of the biggest threats to Nigeria’s healthcare system.

He said: “Non-communicable diseases are silently sidesplitting our people. The authorities indispensable enactment fast. We request collaboration betwixt the nationalist and backstage sectors, the diaspora, and probe institutions to fortify healthcare capacity.”

Aluya stressed the value of reliable information to thrust nationalist readying and decision-making. “Without data, determination is nary problem; without a problem, determination is nary funding; and without funding, determination is nary solution,” helium said.

He urged the Federal Government to put successful wellness exertion by implementing a nationalist physics aesculapian records, EMR, strategy to heighten connection betwixt hospitals and trim medicine errors. “If a doc successful Zamfara prescribes a drug, a doc successful Lagos should beryllium capable to spot it. That’s however to physique a transparent and businesslike wellness system,” helium added.

Citing caller trends, Aluya noted that the prevalence of NCDs successful Nigeria has risen by betwixt 20 and 32 per cent successful caller years, driven mostly by changing lifestyles. “As our socioeconomic presumption improves, we are opening to unrecorded similar those overseas — from air-conditioned homes to air-conditioned offices and cars — with small carnal activity. That displacement is driving the emergence successful hypertension and diabetes,” helium explained.

In his remarks, President of NAFTRAPH, Dr. John Ejezie, said the league was designed to beforehand collaboration among healthcare professionals astatine location and abroad. He emphasised that addressing the rising load of chronic diseases requires a unified attack involving pharmacists, doctors, nurses, and nationalist wellness practitioners.

“Pharmacists are accessible, trusted, and adjacent to the people,” helium said. “They tin observe aboriginal symptoms, supply counselling, and notation terrible cases for further treatment. That’s however we prevention lives.”

Ejezie reaffirmed NAFTRAPH’s committedness to improving nationalist wellness outcomes done training, research, and planetary partnerships. He besides paid tribute to departed elders of the association, including Pharm. Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, precocious steadfast of Pharmanews, and Dr. Terrance Baker, a John Hopkins doc and past big of NAFTRAPH events, describing them arsenic “selfless pillars whose legacies proceed to animate the younger generation.”

He further announced NAFTRAPH’s ongoing concern with the Africa Diaspora Corporation, aimed astatine deepening collaboration connected wellness innovation, research, and data-driven initiatives.

Also speaking, Dr. Violet Bumah, Faculty Member, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas, emphasised the request for preventive healthcare and manner discipline. She advised Nigerians to instrumentality to accepted diets and debar excessive depletion of processed foods, which she linked to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases.

“Our ancestors lived longer due to the fact that they ate integrated food, stayed active, and maintained balanced lifestyles,” she said. “We should beryllium civilised, not westernised. It’s good to follow technology, but not unhealthy eating habits.”

Bumah besides encouraged young Nigerians to instrumentality inaugural successful solving wellness challenges. “Team up, network, and d...