Health experts have urged governments at all levels to prioritize prevention, embrace data-driven research, and establish a coordinated national response to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across Nigeria.
They made the call on Thursday at the opening of the 7th Annual International Conference of the Nigerian Association of Foreign Trained Pharmacists (NAFTRAPH), held in Lagos.
The three-day conference is themed “Non-Communicable Diseases in a Post-Pandemic World: Nigeria’s Perspective and How to Mitigate Disease Ramifications.”
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Nelson Aluya, Chief Executive Officer of Eralmed Medical Group and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, U.S., described NCDs—particularly diabetes—as “the pandemic before the pandemic.”
He said non-communicable diseases pose a major threat to Nigeria’s health system and called for stronger collaboration between the government, the private sector, and the diaspora community to enhance healthcare delivery.
Aluya also urged the Federal Government to invest in technology by creating a national electronic medical records system to reduce medication errors and improve continuity of care.
“If a doctor in Abuja prescribes a drug, a doctor in Lagos should be able to see it. That’s how to build an efficient health system,” he said.
He encouraged Nigerians to adopt healthier lifestyles to combat obesity, which he identified as a key driver of NCDs such as hypertension and diabetes.
“As our socioeconomic status improves, we are living more like those abroad, with less physical activity, leading to rising cases of hypertension and diabetes,” he said.
Aluya noted that the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria has risen by 20 to 32 per cent in recent years, largely due to changing lifestyles.
Earlier, NAFTRAPH President, Dr. John Ejezie, said the conference aims to strengthen collaboration among healthcare professionals at home and abroad to address chronic disease challenges.
Ejezie emphasized that tackling NCDs requires a unified approach involving doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and public health experts.
“Pharmacists are accessible and trusted. They can detect symptoms early, provide counselling, and refer severe cases for further treatment,” he said.
He reaffirmed NAFTRAPH’s commitment to advancing public health through training, research, and global partnerships.
Ejezie also disclosed that the association’s collaboration with the Africa Diaspora Corporation would boost cooperation in health innovation and data-driven research.
In her remarks, Dr. Violet Bumah of Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas, stressed the importance of preventive healthcare and lifestyle discipline.
She advised Nigerians to return to traditional diets and reduce consumption of processed foods, which she linked to the growing burden of chronic diseases.
“Our ancestors lived longer because they ate organic food, stayed active, and maintained balanced lifestyles. We should be civilized, not westernized,” she said.
