By Ojoma Akor
Stakeholders in the health sector have enjoined the government at all levels in Nigeria to increase funding for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
They made the call during a national orientation workshop for patients, patient support organizations, and media practitioners on NCD budget advocacy. LISDEL organized it in collaboration with the Global Health Advocacy Incubator and NCD Patients AW Group.
Dr. Chi-Kadibia Ukoma, Vice President of the Nigeria Cancer Society (NCS), said the government needs to increase efforts and funding to address NCDs.
He said doing so is important because the disease affects the entire country.
He said, ” The burden is enormous. Almost all of us are affected in one way or another. If you do not have hypertension, you might have diabetes, cancer, or another chronic disease, and the cost of managing these conditions is extremely high.”
He highlighted that lifestyle changes are critical for preventing NCDs, such as reducing consumption of processed and fatty foods and engaging in physical activity.
Dr. Ukoma, who is also a haematologist and founder of Leukemia Care Plus Initiative, advised Nigerians to make themselves available for screening and treatment if positive for cancer.
Akomah-Charles Ugonna, Executive Director of the Benedict Better Life Initiative, an NGO focused on vulnerable women, girls, and youths, called on the government at all levels to join hands with civil society organisations to reduce the burden of NCDs in the country.
She said there is inadequate data to make informed decisions regarding NCDs in Abia State.
Citing cases of women who slumped and died on the streets as a result of hypertension, she said non-communicable diseases have not been given the required attention in terms of intervention.
She said, “We are trying to map out strategies and advocacy plans, and sensitisation programs. We go into communities, sensitise them, and provide BP-check equipment. We also do community mobilisation, forming a support group to identify the victims of NCDs.”
She further said that attention should be given to NCDs, the way it has been given to HIV.
“The government should integrate NCD care into primary health care. The measures we need to put in place before referring them to secondary or tertiary healthcare facilities are not in place. Also, lifestyle change and behavior modification are key to achieving success in combating non-communicable diseases,” she added.
Dr. Biobele Davidson, Strengthening Health Care Systems Lead at BudgIT, said most people who seek care for NCDs do so out of pocket, and that it is very expensive.
She said the discussion is timely because there’s a global shift; there’s a year before the election, and many people are beginning to make adjustments.
“How do we do financing? How do we incorporate this into our health budget, and how do we also do a lot of advocacy and communications? So it’s a constructive engagement, and we hope that the information doesn’t just stay here. That’s why we have the media personnel. Our voice can only go in a particular sector. Your voice can go global and then pass the right information.”
