Love Your Heart campaign
The verdict is out:
Over 93.7 per cent of sudden unexpected deaths (SUD) in Nigeria are due to hypertension-induced medical conditions such as stroke and heart failure even as experts have associated the increasing cases of the condition to decline in physical activities, increased salt and fat intake from the consumption of processed foods, and tobacco use.
They, however, called for an urgent review and upgrading of critical care management facilities in Nigeria as well as improve the awareness, control and management of hypertension.
Fifty-five-year-old Godwin Okagbue was married with 11 children. Okagbue who resided at Abaranje Ikotun in Alimosho Local Council of Lagos State lost his wife in January this year, after a long battle with cancer.
Okagbue who hailed from Nnewi in Anambra State slumped and died on his seat, last week, almost immediately after waving at a passer-by from his compound. He was confirmed dead at a nearby hospital. Post mortem reports showed that Okagbue had cardiac arrest.
Mrs. Adebisi Adeoye, 38 year-old, slumped and died as she tried to pick up a pen that fell from her husband’s hand early in April, 2016.
Forty two-year-old Musa Bala is married with four wives and 18 children.
Bala who has been battling with high blood pressure died in his sleep.
Okagbue, Adeoye and Bala are some of the victims of sudden unexpected, natural death (SUD) in Nigeria.
Also, the country recently lost former Captain and Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, and former Eagles Coach, Shuaibu Amodu, to SUD caused largely by Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as stroke and heart attack.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines SUD as “death within 24 hours from the onset of symptoms.” Mason, however, defines it as “unexpected death following so rapidly from the onset of symptoms that the cause of death could not be certified with confidence by a medical practitioner familiar with the patient.”
The Guardian investigation revealed that Nigeria does not have up to date national data on NCDs because the last survey was carried out over 20 years ago.
However, according to the WHO country profile for Nigeria in 2014, it is estimated that NCDs account for 25 per cent of total deaths in Nigeria. Cardiovascular disease/heart-related disease (CVD) is responsible for seven per cent; Cancers three per cent; Diabetes two per cent; chronic obstructive respiratory diseases one per cent; and others 11 per cent.
What are the causes of SUD in Nigeria? Why are more Nigerians succumbing to SUD?
National Coordinator, NCDs at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, told The Guardian: “Whilst there is no straightforward answer to this question we have reasons to believe that the rise in sudden deaths in Nigeria is linked to the rise in the prevalence of NCDs, prominent among which are CVDs, various cancers, diabetes, and chronic obstructive respiratory disease. Most of these diseases are capable of causing sudden death manifested as slumping or dying in sleep.”
In view of these occurrence, Forever Flourish is spearheading the LOVE YOUR HEART campaign, of which HealtH'Oceries is a strategic partner.
LOVE YOUR HEART campaign is our Community/Workplace Wellness Program , an initiative to combat lifestyle diseases and occupational stress cutting short the life expectancy of an average senior management employee of a company.
More about the LOVE YOUR HEART campaign in our next post.
If you want more information or a pro bono WORKPLACE WELLNESS TRAINING for your top-management staff, contact us via +2348069787827 or healthoceries@gmail.com
