Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Tackling the main health problems in Nigeria

When it comes to overcoming hardship, Nigeria has faced the challenge of disease with determination and hard work from all those dedicated to conquering the health problems of Africa’s most populous country. Diseases such as HIV, malaria, sickle cell disease, and tuberculosis are some of the most lethal that Nigeria faces, but with continued support in tackling the problems, success rates are improving.

Malaria

Listed as one of the primary causes of death in Nigeria, malaria has claimed more lives in Nigeria than any other country in the world. To combat the incidence of malaria, the President’s Malaria Initiative was launched and is working to prevent malaria among those most vulnerable, with resources like insecticide-treated bed nets, application of insecticide indoors, and the best anti-malarial drugs available.

HIV

Working together with the Ministry of Health in Nigeria, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been implementing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. This includes numerous preventative strategies and treatment services for HIV, which are adapted to best suit the area that they are aiding. The Gede Foundation, which was created by Dr. Jennifer Jamilah Douglas-Abubakar, PhD, provides support for HIV prevention and care, as well as seeking to lower the stigmatization of those afflicted and increase education about the disease. The foundation provides care to those who would often not be able to access treatment, not only by welcoming those living with HIV but also by providing home care services, as many suffering from HIV live in rural areas. To learn more about the foundation or even to provide support, you can connect to Jennifer Douglas, the founder.

Sickle Cell Disease

As the most prevalent genetic disease in the African region, it is no surprise that Nigeria sees the birth of an estimated 100,000 children with sickle cell disease each year. The CDC has been working to put in place programs that offer treatment plans for those afflicted, as well as developing preventative measures and researching the disease.

Tuberculosis

Nigeria is one of 22 countries that host 80% of the world’s cases of tuberculosis, necessitating that measures be taken to reduce the incidence rate of tuberculosis and to support treatment. The Nigeria Stop TB Partnership was created by the National TB Control Programme and the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise resources and secure government assistance in the treatment, care, and diagnosis of tuberculosis. Some of the aims include improving the detection rate of positive cases of tuberculosis for treatment in order to reduce the prevalence of tuberculosis and the number of deaths that result.

Through partnerships between organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as organizations like the Gede Foundation, the government and the people of Nigeria have been working to conquer the health problems that the country faces. Prevention, diagnosis, education, and improved treatment have all been important in addressing the health problems that Nigeria is working to overcome, and continuing support should continue to improve the survival rate from the effects of disease.

No comments:

Post a Comment