OGUN, NIGERIA (VOICE OF NAIJA) The increasing burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases poses a grave threat to the health and lives of millions of people in Africa.
Despite the fact that some of these diseases are treatable and preventable, it is alarming to witness a rise in the death toll year after year.
These diseases can be categorized into two groups: communicable and non-communicable.
According to the World Health Organization’s Non-Communicable Disease Progress Monitor, the report reveals that in several countries, including some of Africa’s most populous nations, between 100,000 and 450,000 lives are lost to these diseases annually.
The escalating burden of these diseases requires a thorough examination of their root causes.
VONa previously reported that the National Programme Officer for TB at the WHO, Dr. Amos Omoniyi recently expressed his sadness and concern about the fact that people continue to die from tuberculosis, a curable and preventable disease.
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Omoniyi also appealed to the government to intervene in tuberculosis prevention and treatment, stressing that this disease is preventable and can be eradicated with increased investment at all levels of government.
He said, “This disease is preventable and can be eradicated if governments at all levels can invest more in tackling TB.
In an exclusive interview with renowned Nigerian virologist Prof. Oyewale Tomori, he emphasized the role of the environment in determining the types of diseases that afflict people.
Prof. Tomori stated, “There are no areas without diseases, but the environment in which people live is a defining factor in the types of diseases they will be exposed to. If people live in environments where they are exposed to rodents, diseases like Lassa Fever will prevail. In areas with high mosquito exposure, malaria and other diseases become prevalent.”
Prof. Tomori firmly believes that the number of deaths caused by these diseases can be minimized through early detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
He stressed that early identification and prompt diagnosis increase the chances of survival.
Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of widespread awareness of individual health and the environment to prevent many instances of these diseases.
“There should be adequate information about individual health and the environment, which could prevent many instances of these diseases,” he said.
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According to Prof. Tomori, there is a need for comprehensive awareness campaigns that reach grassroots levels.
He asserted that governments should ensure accessible information about these diseases and promote preventive measures, as prevention remains the best medicine.
Prof. Tomori stated that investing more in healthcare is crucial and sensitizing the general public about preventive measures against common diseases.
He said, “There should be a deliberate effort from the government to invest more in healthcare. Take, for example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, you could see organizations like NCDC, Africa CDC making people aware of the Covid-19 pandemic. Similarly, there should be continuous conscious effort by the government to sensitize the general public about their health, their environment, and how to prevent common diseases that could easily afflict them.”
He highlighted the importance of international collaboration and partnerships with health organizations, comparing them to icing on a cake.
However, he emphasized that the victims, represented by the cake itself, must play their part by being well-informed through high-quality awareness programs to effectively overcome these diseases.
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“You know, we can only determine if a student is well-prepared for an exam by the result produced after the exams. We claim to be prepared for other diseases or viruses that may break out later in the future, but our level of preparation can only be ascertained by the result we are able to produce when we face another outbreak.“
Prof. Tomori drew attention to the lack of adequate funding in the health sector.
“Many health organizations claim to be performing more research on how to fight these diseases, but the truth remains that we lack adequate funding in the health sector. Our leaders prefer to allocate more funds for their personal and official needs at the expense of quality research work to be done in the health sector,” he said.