…as CVDs responsible for 11 per cent death of all the NCD
By Joy Odor
The Federal Ministry of Health in partnership with the Nigeria Heart Foundation has unveiled and launched Cardiac Emergency Response Box (CERB) otherwise known as Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to respond to Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVDs) emergencies arrest in public places to save lives.
This is even as 2018 World Health Organisation (WHO) Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Country Profiles show that NCDs accounted for 29 per cent of all deaths in Nigeria with CVDs responsible for 11 per cent of all the NCD deaths.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate unveiled the device at the commemoration of the 2023 World Heart Day theme: “Use Heart, Know Heart” on Friday, in Abuja.
He said the country profile also shows that the risk of dying prematurely from NCDs in Nigeria is 22 per cent, which defined as death occurring between ages 30 and 70 years from any of the common NCDs.
Pate who was represented by the Minister of State, Dr Tunji Alausa, informed that the AEDs were portable, life-saving medical devices used to revive sudden ( arrest and would go a long way in saving lives at high populated places such as airports, stadiums, gymnasiums, banks etc.
“Statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO), show that Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVDs) Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are the foremost cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. Of these cardiovascular deaths, 85 per cent are due to heart attack and stroke, and over three-quarters occur in low- and middle-income countries.
The Minister put stroke incidences in Nigeria at 25.9 per 100,000 persons per year between 2000 and 2015; coronary heart disease prevalence at 0.7 per cent and rheumatic heart disease, which is a disease of the socio-economically disadvantaged at 27 per 1,000 children, also noted that the morbidity and mortality due to CVDs in Nigeria were underestimated due to inadequate awareness, health-seeking behaviours, limited screening, diagnostic and therapeutic services including poor data repository.
“CVDs are the leading Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and are the foremost cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year of these cardiovascular deaths, 85% are due to heart attack and stroke, and over three-quarters occur in low- and middle-income countries.
“Given the silent and chronic nature of majority of the CVDs, it is important to institute long-lasting measures to prevent, detect and manage them early in order to avert complications such as heart attack, heart failure, stroke and even death. Luckily, the risk factors for heart diseases are well known and largely preventable. For example, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, sickle cell disease, lipid abnormalities, overweight and obesity, tobacco use, alcohol intake and insufficient physical activity are significant modifiable and preventable risk factors for heart disease and other NCDs.
“In an average adult at rest, normal heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute, and with each heartbeat, the heart pumps 70 milliliters (mL) of blood out of the heart, which is equivalent to 5-7 Litres of blood per minute.
The Minister explained that World Heart Day is a day set aside by the Cardiovascular Health Community all over the world to raise awareness about the importance of the heart and promote preventive measures to reduce the global impact and burden of heart diseases, adding that this year’s theme, beyond encouraging us to learn more about our hearts and how to keep them healthy, also enjoins us to show care and compassion to people who suffer from heart problems.
Pate challenged Nigerians to protect their hearts from diseases by adopting healthy lifestyles by engaging in daily physical activities, abstinence from tobacco, consumption of healthy diet, and regular checking of their blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels.
“Engage in physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes daily. Some physical activity options include using the stairs instead of the elevator, trekking instead of taking the bus for short distances, standing up from your seat intermittently to stretch your body. Physical activity relieves stress, keeps you fit, and controls body weight.
“The majority of heart diseases are preventable. I therefore urge you to adopt a healthy lifestyle to always make your heart age longer and healthier.”
“It reminds us that taking care of our hearts and those of others is not only a medical necessity but also a fundamental act of self-love and care for our loved ones.
“Avoid tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke. Avoid harmful intake of alcohol. Abstinence is the best. Eat a healthy diet containing a minimum of 3-5 servings of a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables spread over each day. In addition, eat a variety of whole grains, lean meat, fish, peas, beans, and lentils. Limit processed foods, limit salt intake to less than 5 grams (1 teaspoon) daily, reduce dietary cholesterol, and avoid industrially produced trans-fats.
” The Ministry, in collaboration with partners, will be carrying out free hypertension screening and counseling for Public/Civil Servants in and around the Federal Secretariat Complex Phase 1 and Phase 3 and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport to encourage individuals to take advantage of this opportunity and get screened” he said.
Pate commended the World Health Organization, Nigeria Heart Foundation, Resolve to Save Lives, Power Oil and Codix Pharma Limited for collaborating with the FMOH to mark this year’s World Heart Day.
Contributing, Mr. Abiola Awe, a representative of Nigeria Heart Foundation affirmed it’s commitment to promote the message, advocating for the inclusion of these Cardiac Emergency Response Box (CERB) as an essential package for prevention of deaths resulting from sudden cardiac arrest in public institutions and privately owned organizations such as Airpofis, Banks, offices, Malls, Sports centers, Gyms Schools, among others.
In her opening remarks, Daju Kachollom Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, who was represented by Dr. Chukwuma Anys Ike Director of Public Health affirmed that Nigeria is running towards a double burden county in extent that the Non communicable diseases are running in the same levels with communicable diseases, adding that, this is the status of health system condition in Nigeria right now.
Speaking, Dr. Kelias Msyambola, Country Representative of World Health Organization, (WHO) said the it is aimed to empower individuals to take control of their-being because knowledge about healthy heart is limited and when one knows his/her heart more he/she can take better care of it.
Dr. Msyambola commended the ministry for their efforts as WHO is committed to continued support to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to prevent and control NCDs including cardiovascular diseases.
