SUMMARY ON NIGERIA’S HEALTH CHALLENGE

The deficient projects intended to address the various medical issues in Nigeria have prompted
the little enhancement in our wellbeing status. Other than the proceeded with disregard of the
significance of tending to general medical problems would exacerbate the situation for poor
Nigerians the vast majority of who are in a bad way.
Nigeria is frequently referred to as the "Giant of Africa", attributable to its vast populace
and economy.1 with around 182 million occupants, Nigeria is the most crowded nation in Africa
and the seventh most crowded nation on the planet. Nigeria has one of the biggest populaces of
youth in the world.2 Nigeria is the most crowded nation in Africa with in excess of 170 million
people.3 it is a country made of in excess of 250 ethnic gatherings, 380 dialects, and a differing
scope of social and religious convictions and practices. Medical issues in Nigeria are testing, yet
tending to them utilizing general wellbeing standards is important to help steadiness in this vital
territory of the world. The deficient projects intended to address the various medical issues in
Nigeria have prompted the little enhancement in our wellbeing status. By and large future during
childbirth is 54 years; newborn child death rate is 86 for every 1000 live birth while maternal
mortality proportion is 840 for every 100,000 live births.4 Besides, the proceeded with disregard
of the significance of tending to general medical problems would exacerbate the situation for
poor Nigerians the greater part of who are in a bad way
The top 10 causes of death in Nigeria are as follows:

1. Malaria (20%)
2. Lower Respiratory Infection (19%)
3. HIV/AIDS (9%)
4. Diarrheal Diseases (5%)
5. Road Injuries (5%)
6. Protein Energy Malnutrition (4%)
7. Cancer (3%)
8. Meningitis (3%)
9. Stroke (3%)
10. Tuberculosis (2%)

1. Malaria
Malaria remains the foremost killer disease in Nigeria.It has the highest burden of disease in
Nigeria with an estimated 300,000 children dying of malaria each year. It accounts for over 25%
of infant mortality (children under aged one), 30% of child-hood mortality (children under
five), and 11% of maternal mortality. At least 50% of the population has at least one episode
of malaria annually, while children aged less than 5 years have 2 to 4 attacks annually.
2. Lower Respiratory Infection
Lower respiratory tract infections are among the most common infectious diseases of humans
worldwide and continue to be a major cause of morbidity in Nigeria. This study focused on
determining the microbial agents of lower respiratory tract infections, the effect of age and
gender on its prevalence, and the susceptibility profile of bacterial isolates.

3. HIV/AIDS
Nigeria has 2.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS, The HIV/AIDS pandemic, which has
already left at least 930,000 children orphaned, and the high rates of maternal death and
disability, are outstanding public health issues in Nigeria. A high incidence of unsafe abortion
is driven by legal restrictions and social stigma, while an extremely low rate of contraceptive
use contributes to an estimated 1.4 million unintended pregnancies each year.

4. Diarrheal Diseases
According to the latest WHO data published in 2017 Diarrhoeal diseases Deaths in Nigeria
reached 186,218 or 9.16% of total deaths. The age adjusted Death Rate is 127.79 per 100,000
of population ranks Nigeria 4 in the world.

5. Road Injuries
Transport is a critical sector of the Nigerian economy, whose catalytic effect, particularly on
socio-economic development, cannot be, overemphasized. Over 80% of transportation in
Nigeria is done by road. Transportation safety implies the prevention of accidents and the
minimization of accident losses. As Nigeria becomes more mobile, the possibility of accidents
resulting in the death of people and the destruction of property on our highway becomes more
of a critical factor. The consequences of accidents on our roads are immense. Accidents cause
significant losses to present and future productive manpower of our country, as well as, in
many cases, profound social problems, deaths or serious injury.

6. Protein Energy Malnutrition

Protein-energy malnutrition is still highly prevalent in Nigeria due to faulty weaning practices,
poverty, poor sanitary conditions, minimal medical attention, and endemic childhood
infections. Insufficient food intake affects the child principally as a result of one of these
causes:
1) The child is offered little food and is unable to get more by him/herself; (for example,
restricted intake of protein during illness or prolonged exclusive breast feeding);
2) The child is offered ample foods but the quantity is of inadequate quality for his/her needs,
resulting in low protein and/or energy density;
3) Improper feeding practices such as nonhygienic preparation of over-diluted formula or
starch gruels, which give rise to early-age severe protein-energy malnutrition. Studies in
Nigeria found that protein-energy malnutrition was the second cause of death in children
under six years.

7. Cancer
The increasing cases of cancer infections among Nigerians, young and old, only help to make
life and living a little more precarious. In recent years, reported cases of people afflicted with
cancer in the country have been on a steady rise. While many such persons have been killed
by the disease, others have been knocked down by it and are yet battling for survival.
It is bad enough that cancer is a terminal disease; it is worse that most Nigerian medical
centres lack the diagnostic capacity to quickly detect and treat cancer infections. This has
greatly compounded the problem, forcing several Nigerians to travel to countries like India,
the Emirates, United Kingdom, etc., in search of treatment for the disease. The economic
consequence of this is that it has led to so much capital flight while most medical experts are
now agreed that the disease has become an important health care concern for the country.
8. Meningitis
Nigeria has a long history of meningitis epidemics. One of the worst occurred in 1996 when
109,580 cases and 11,717 deaths were recorded. In 2003, there were 4,130 cases and 401
deaths; 9,086 cases and 562 deaths in 2008, and 9,086 cases and 562 deaths recorded in 2009.
The historical records and past experiences influenced health authorities in Africa (especially
countries within the African Meningitis Belt), the World Health Organisation and
Development Partners to roll out a strategic intervention for the effective prevention of
suchepidemics.
9. Stroke
In Nigeria, one person is affected by a stroke every 80 minutes. Nigeria sees about 168,000 new
stroke cases every year One of the many debilitating diseases in today’s society, a stroke happens
when a major blood vessel (artery) which supplies nourishment and oxygen to the brain ruptures
or is suddenly blocked. Disrupting this vital supply line to one half of the brain results in
paralysis on the opposite side of the body. Stroke affects one in six people worldwide and is the
second highest cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, as in other developing countries,
strokes disproportionately affect the young and economically active members of society with
serious consequences for family members and careers.

10. Tuberculosis

Nigeria is ranked 4th among the 22 worst affected countries in the world and the first in Africa.
As such, about 460,000 new TB cases occur yearly in Nigeria. Lagos state carries 8.4% of
Nigeria TB burden and consistently has been responsible for about 11% of the cases of TB
registered in Nigeria. The State program is implementing the internationally recommended
STOP TB Strategy
Conclusion

Nigeria is at present progressing in the direction of accomplishing the Millennium Development

Goals. To achieve the objectives for the decrease of kid mortality, which structure MDG 4,
Nigeria ought to diminish under-five passings for every 1,000 live births to 71, and increment
measles vaccination to 100 percent by 2015.

In spite of the community endeavors of both Nigerian Government, Donor Agencies and NGOs
to give a productive and successful human services conveyance in Nigeria, standing up to issues
render these endeavors significantly less than wanted. A portion of these issues or difficulties
incorporate both developing and re-rising medical issues, for example, HIV/AIDS pandemic,
deficient installment of wellbeing laborers pay rates, low quality of consideration, discriminatory
medicinal services administrations, cerebrum channel, and silly arrangement of wellbeing
specialists among others. Another worldwide weight has uncovered that intestinal sickness and
HIV are as yet driving reason for death in Nigeria killing morethan of 190 thousand and 130
thousand individuals separately.