The World Health Organization WHO recently lamented that the burden of diseases in low-income countries especially in Africa  was high.

Nigeria has a high burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases including Malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS among others which over the years have remained a serious  challenge.  Malnutrition is also common across the country  with astounding rate of forty three point six percent. Disease burden is a health problem on a given population, and can be measured using a variety of indicators such as mortality, morbidity or financial costs. Nigeria for many years has not recorded any appreciable progress in reducing the burden of diseases  and this  has been endangering lives and perpetuating a vicious cycle of low life expectancy . Some of these diseases like malaria; which is preventable and treatable, still affect many Nigerians  who have remained vulnerable due to poverty and ignorance .

This is perhaps why the  risk of untimely  deaths  from non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancers, respiratory diseases and diabetes has remained  high.

Healthcare delivery in Nigeria has continued to experience progressive deterioration as a result of  a number of factors including poor implementation of health policies  and lack of  political will on the part of successive Federal governments to effectively solve several problems that have existed in the health  sector over the years.

Today there is serious brain drain especially in the health sector as many health workers are leaving the country for greener pastures in other parts of the world  because of poor condition of service, insecurity, insensitivity   and unwillingness of government to address myriads of problems in the sector.

Several outbreaks of diseases in recent times  have shown that the healthcare system lacks medical intelligence and effective surveillance system.

 Unfortunately very little percentage of Nigerians are enrolled in the health insurance schemes  which would have significantly reduced cost of accessing quality healthcare.

That is why Anambra State Government under Professor Chukwuma Soludo should be commended for proactive measures taken so far to reposition the state healthcare system. The State government  has employed hundreds of  doctors and  health workers in less than two  years and  has equally upgraded and equipped   general hospitals  across the state .

On her part,  the wife of the governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo through her programme  ‘Healthy Living With Nonye Soludo, has  sustained various interventions to further improve the healthcare of the people including embarking  on seminars, training and sensitization programmes to raise awareness on healthy choices, lifestyle and encourage organic farming among others. The federal and state governments should use the public-private partnership  model to attract private sector participation in health projects.

It is important to stress that not all ailments require drugs.  The   practice of relaxation, regular exercises, healthy eating and lifestyle modification may be all that is needed to do the magic.

 An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is an age long popular advice from experts. So there is need for people to eat more fruits and vegetables to reduce the burden of illnesses.

A healthy nation is a wealthy nation.

WILFRED OBIOTIKA

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