I know majority of us don’t like hearing, reading or being reminded of death but it is an inevitable end. In Nigeria there are several factors which are reducing the lifespan of its people by the day.
The life expectancy (according to a 2011 statistic from Punchng.com) in Nigeria is 52 years and this makes the country the 17th lowest in the world’s life expectancy ranking.
Top 10 Causes of Death in Nigeria by the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
Malaria 20%
Lower Respiratory Infections 19%
HIV 9%
Diarrheal Diseases 5%
Road Injuries 5%
Protein-Energy Malnutrition 4%
Cancer 3%
Meningitis 3%
Stroke 3%
Tuberculosis 2%
It is important we know some of the factors that cause majority of deaths in Nigeria so we can work towards avoiding them. This is a list of diseases that has high mortality rate in Nigeria. It is in no particular order.
10 Diseases That Kills Nigerians The Most
- Malaria
Malaria is said to cause 11% of maternal deaths in Nigeria and also kills more people than HIV, leprosy and tuberculosis. It is estimated that 40% of Malaria deaths all over the world occur in Nigeria and Congo alone and that around 250,000 Nigerian children are said to die yearly due to Malaria.
- HIV/AIDS
AIDS deaths in Nigeria is also the second largest in the world in 2012 according to UNAIDS. The disease is majorly caused a virus that is transmitted through exchange of blood and other bodily fluids. It attacks and causes the immune system to fail progressively thereby opening doors for a myriad of infections.
- Cardiovascular diseases
The main causes of sudden deaths in Nigeria include heart attack, heart failure, hypertension etc and these are all cardiovascular diseases i.e diseases of the heart. Majority of Nigerians have hypertension without knowing. This is due to our lifestyle and our diet.
- Cancer
According to WHO, Nigeria has the highest cancer records in Africa. About 10,000 deaths are recorded annually with 250,000 new cases every year. Cancer is fast becoming a popular word among Nigerians. The commonest of cancers in Nigeria include breast, cervical and prostrate cancers.
- Diarrheal diseases
Diarrhoea is described as the passage of stool more frequently than is normal. The disease is said to kill 194,000 Nigerian kids under age five annually according to UNICEF. It is more prevalent in poor living conditions where there are dirty water and food items.
- Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a contagious disease which is caused by bacterial, fungal or viral infection as a result of breathing in germs from a dirty environment . Pneumonia is said to be the second highest killer of children in Nigeria according to healthnewsng.com. The disease spreads through coughs and sneezes. Contrary to what many believe about Pneumonia, it’s not contacted by drinking cold drink or from being exposed to cold weather; although those may aggravate the condition, they are not the primary causes.
- Diabetes
Nigeria has the highest record of diabetes in Africa according to World Health Organization and the International Federation of Diabetes and Diabetes Association of Nigeria. The mortality rate has shoot up in recent years. Diabetes is a metabolic disease resulting from an inability of the body to store sugar leaving excesses in the body fluids. It is majorly predominant in Nigeria due to our eating habits.
- Stroke
- Tuberculosis
- Meningitis
I hope this piece has increased our knowledge on certain diseases. We need to take good care of ourselves so as to live a long and healthy life.
Source : infogoons
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