Top 10 Causes of Death in Nigeria
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. As of 2021, the country records about 206 million individuals. Nigeria, who is known for its diverse range of cultural beliefs has over 521 languages and over 1150 dialects and ethnic groups. It is no news that, despite the strategic position of Nigeria in Africa, the country is still greatly underserved in the health care sphere. This is evident in our inadequate healthcare infrastructures (health centers, technologies, skilled personnel, and medical equipment), high number of Infant and Maternity death, poor life expectancy, high disease burden and deaths from preventable diseases conditions.
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) carried out a recent research and has shown the top 10 illness that leads to death in Nigeria.
Below are the top 10 causes of death according to the CDC report:
- Lower respiratory infections
- Neonatal disorders
- HIV/AIDS
- Malaria
- Diarrheal diseases
- Tuberculosis
- Meningitis
- lschemic heart disease
- Stroke
- Cirrhosis
Source: GBD compare 2018, Nigeria.
The Nigeria health sector has suffered several non-communicable diseases as well as infectious diseases outbreaks for several years, hence there is a need for policy makers to plan and provide strategies to tackle the problem. This statistic is of great importance as it will enable the government, healthcare providers, physicians, most importantly patients take necessary steps to prevent or reduce unnecessary death.
However, patients can drastically reduce the risk of early death by making few simple changes to their lifestyle and observing some healthy practices. Some of these practices include;
Maintain Healthy Diets
Eating Balance Diets cannot be overemphasized as one of the ways to improve the quality of health. Unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are leading global risks to health. According to WHO, eating healthy diet helps to protect against malnutrition in all its forms, as well as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. Limiting intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake is part of a healthy diet. A further reduction to less than 5% of total energy intake is suggested for additional health benefits.
Regular Exercise:
Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of dying from some leading illness and death in Nigeria. According to research, regular exercise has proven to improve life expectancy and not exercising can increase mortality rate, as much as, or more than, traditional risk factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Regular check-ups
Regular check-ups can help reduce mortality and prolong life by finding potential health issues before they become a problem. Seeing your doctor regularly can help detect health condition and diseases early. Early detection gives you the best chance for getting the right treatment quickly, avoiding any complications. For example; the detection of elevated risk factors such as hypertension or hypercholesterolemia may lead to reductions in morbidity and mortality through preventive treatment. Some tests may detect precursors to disease, such as cervical dysplasia, the treatment of which may prevent cancer from developing. By getting the correct health services, screenings, and treatment you are taking important steps toward living a longer, healthier life.
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