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Non-communicable diseases claim 684,000 Nigerians – Stakeholders react

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The recent report that over 684,000 Nigerians die from non communicable diseases, NCDs, annually, is a source of concern.

Non communicable diseases are diseases that are not contagious. Most Nigerians have been battling with communicable or infectious diseases like cholera, Human Immuno Virus, HIV, tuberculosis among others.

Such diseases have, however, attracted public attention as they are always in the news.

But, not many pay attention to the non communicable diseases.

However, the staggering number of casualties of non communicable diseases was brought to the front burner by the Lead Strategist of Gatefield, Adewunmi Emoruwa, in Abuja recently at a two-day health summit organised by Gatefield.

Speaking at the summit entitled, “Beyond65: Preventing the Quiet Epidemic,” Emoruwa decried the devastating negative impacts of non communicable diseases, which he said claims over 684,000 lives annually in Nigeria.

He said: “NCDs are responsible for over 684,000 deaths annually in Nigeria. This is equivalent to wiping out an entire population of Luxembourg every single year. This preventable crisis can no longer be ignored.”

He revealed that the NCD-related deaths in Nigeria have increased from 24 percent in 2010 to 29 percent at present.

Gatefield, also launched a new health strategy to tackle the growing crisis of NCDs in Nigeria, where life expectancy averages just 52 years.

Listing what he described as the driving factors for the NCDs’ quiet epidemic, Emoruwa attributed the crisis to the dangerous rise of unhealthy diets such as foods and beverages containing added-sugars, excessive salt consumption, alcohol and tobacco use, and environmental pollution.

He said Nigerians consume 4.9 servings of sugary drinks per week, nearly double the global average.

Salt intake is dangerously high at 5.8 grammes per day, above the World Health Organisation, WHO, recommended level.

“Nigeria has a high prevalence of heavy episodic drinking at 27.3 percent, and without intervention, smoking rates in Africa are projected to rise by 30 percent by 2030“Around 48 million Nigerians are not physically active enough, increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease,” he said.

He said that there was a need to tackle tobacco use, sedentary lifestyle and ensure behaviour change among others.

He said: “NCDs, like cancer and heart diseases, are not death sentences if caught early. But too often, people don’t recognise the signs, don’t get tested, and seek help only when it’s too late.

“The government must invest in messaging. The government shouldn’t wait for the WHO; they shouldn’t wait for the UN. The government needs to bring the money out.

”In her contribution, the Gatefield’s Board Co-chair, Sa’adatu Hamu-Aliyu, said the average Nigerian does not live past the age of 52 and the average African does not live past the age of 64.

She said: “Compare this to Europe, Japan, and Canada, where life expectancy exceeds 80 years.

This means that an average person in the developed world is likely to live at least 20 years longer than their fellow humans in low and middle income populations.

”She said Gatefield’s health strategy outlines five key interventions aimed at reducing preventable deaths and improving life expectancy.

“They are fixing our national diet, taking down tobacco, and supporting mental health among others.

”She added that Gatefield’s strategy would push for policies that encourage routine screenings, public health education, and stronger enforcement of regulations on ultra-processed foods, sugar sweetened beverages, and harmful substances like tobacco and alcohol.

On solutions to addressing the issue, the former Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Babatunde Irukera, called for a robust government’s policy.

“A robust policy and structure will be a combination of hard and soft infrastructure in the forms of both physical structures such as facilities and equipment, and soft ones such as sufficiently trained human capital who recognise their roles and obligations as caregivers and institutions to ensure accountability,” he said.

Throwing more light on the subject of discussion, Dr. Uche Okenyi of Nova’s Place Hospital, Festac, Lagos, further described non communicable diseases as chronic non transmittable diseases which can manifest as a result of genetics, environmental factors, lifestyles, among others.

He gave examples to include but not limited to hypertension, asthma, cancer, sickle cell diseases, stroke, among others.

“These types of diseases contrast with diseases which can be transmitted from person to person, for example cholera, tuberculosis, HIV, among others,” he added.

He offered insight into how the 684, 000 annual death figure can be reduced.

He believes that if the number of annual deaths from non communicable diseases in Nigeria must be reduced drastically, both the government and individuals have roles to play.

Health

Overworked RSUTH Resident Doctor Slump, Dies on Duty

What happened is that he was on call in the Emergency Room. Afterward, he went to the call room to rest, and it was there that he died. Unfortunately, he was the only one attending to the patients.

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Dr Oluwafemi Rotifa, a young resident doctor at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) collapsed and died after a gruelling 72-hour call duty.

Ohibaba.com reliably gathered that the deceased doctor, fondly called Femoski by colleagues, was a former President of the Port Harcourt University Medical Students’ Association, PUMSA, and was registered with the United Kingdom’s General Medical Council, awaiting placement abroad.

The President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, Dr. Tope Osundara, who confirmed Rotifa’s death, said that the deceased doctor had been on continuous call duty for three days in the Emergency Room before he retreated to the call room to rest.

It was there that he slumped and later died, despite efforts to resuscitate him in the Intensive Care Unit.

“What happened is that he was on call in the Emergency Room. Afterward, he went to the call room to rest, and it was there that he died. Unfortunately, he was the only one attending to the patients.

“The overuse of manpower strained his health and led to this painful death. It was a death on duty,” Osundara lamented.

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Health

Rumours of Trump’s ill health spread online despite denial

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From manipulated images to out-of-context photos, false claims that Donald Trump is seriously ill — or even dead — have swirled online, with the misinformation persisting even after the US president publicly rejected it on Tuesday.

At a White House press conference, Trump dismissed social media rumours about his health as “fake news,” following the 79-year-old’s noticeable absence from public appearances and press events last week.

Since last Friday, there were around 104,000 mentions of the hashtag “Trump dead” on the Elon Musk-owned platform X, generating a cumulative 35.3 million views, according to an analysis from the misinformation watchdog NewsGuard.

Some social media users cited online maps purportedly showing road closures near Maryland’s Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre as evidence that Trump was being treated for a serious ailment at the facility.

But there were no credible reports of road closures around the medical facility.

Other social media users shared an image of an ambulance parked outside the White House, claiming it was taken last month and citing it as evidence of a health crisis involving Trump.

It was actually an old photo posted by a journalist on X in April 2023 — while Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, was still in office, according to NewsGuard.

Some users claiming that Trump was dead shared an out-of-context image of the White House flag flying at half-staff, a traditional gesture used to honour the death of a prominent official.

In reality, Trump had issued a proclamation last week ordering flags at the White House, military posts, and naval stations across the country to be lowered in honour of the victims of a school shooting in Minneapolis.

Some users also posted a zoomed-in image of Trump’s face, claiming it showed a deep line above his eye that indicated a recent stroke.

But NewsGuard found that the original image was out of focus and showed no signs of a line over Trump’s eye. The image used in the false posts was digitally enhanced using an AI tool.

The misinformation — which appeared to originate from liberal anti-Trump accounts on X, Bluesky, and Instagram — persisted even after Trump stated on Truth Social over the weekend: “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE.”

The falsehoods continued to circulate following Trump’s press conference on Tuesday, where he publicly dismissed the health rumours.

Shortly after the conference, one Bluesky account falsely claimed that the “White House just announced” the president was dead.

The falsehoods highlight how facts are increasingly under assault on a misinformation-filled internet landscape, an issue exacerbated by public distrust of institutions and traditional media.

The health of US presidents has always been closely watched, but with the White House seeing its two oldest ever occupants since 2017, the scrutiny is now heavier than ever.

Trump — the oldest man ever to be elected US president — has alleged that Democrats covered up the mental and physical decline of Biden, who was 82 when he left office in January.

Biden’s health was a key issue in the 2024 election, and the then-president was forced to drop his campaign for a second term after a disastrous debate performance against Trump.

AFP

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Health

Why Do People Collapse And Die?

Checks by Ohibaba.com, show that there are various reasons why people may collapse and die suddenly.

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Last week, one of the twin sons of my deceased brother, collapsed at work and died.

The incident happened in Abuja. Immediately, I was contacted with the sad news, I inquired if he was sick.

Her sister replied “No”

Did he go to work on an empty tummy or take medication on an empty tummy?

Again, the response was, “No “Did he have high blood pressure? “No,” was the answer.

Hmmm…

Similarly, the FCT Head of Service, Mrs Grace Adayilo, died in the same manner.

Media reports said that Mrs Adayilo slumped and passed out early this morning, September 1.

The report said that Mrs Adayilo, an indigene of Abuja and incidentally, the first female ever to occupy the position in the FCT Administration, attended a church service on Sunday and even donated to the congregation.

These cases among millions got me wondering: Why do people collapse and die?

Checks by Ohibaba.com, show that there are various reasons why people may collapse and die suddenly.

According to Meta AI, some common causes include:

Medical Conditions

1. Heart conditions: Heart attacks, cardiac arrhythmias, or other cardiovascular conditions can cause sudden collapse and death.

2. Stroke or brain aneurysm: A stroke or brain aneurysm can cause sudden loss of consciousness and death.

3. Seizures or epilepsy: Severe seizures or epilepsy can lead to loss of consciousness and, in rare cases, death.

External Factors

1. Trauma or injury: Severe head trauma, spinal cord injuries, or other serious injuries can cause collapse and death.

2. Heatstroke or dehydration: Extreme heat or dehydration can lead to collapse and, if untreated, death.

3. Electrocution: Electrical shock can cause cardiac arrest and death.

Other Causes

1. Sudden cardiac arrest: Unexpected cardiac arrest can occur without warning, often due to underlying heart conditions.

2. Anaphylaxis: Severe allergic reactions can cause rapid collapse and, if untreated, death.

3. Poisoning or overdose: Ingestion of toxic substances or overdose of medications can lead to collapse and death.

It’s essential to seek immediate medical attention if someone collapses suddenly. Prompt medical care can help identify the underlying cause and provide appropriate treatment.

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