Malaria and Diabetes in Nigeria

This article discusses the prevalence of malaria and diabetes in Nigeria, the historical account of key events of health and evolution, the constitution of its systems of health, the country's position worldwide regarding health measurements and indicators, and future predictions of the health of its population.

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MALARIA AND DIABETES IN NIGERIA
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Malaria and Diabetes in Nigeria
Nigeria is one of the highest populated countries in Africa with a population of above 170
million people. It is a country with more than 380 languages, diverse ethnic groups, religious and
cultural practices and beliefs (Worldpopulationreview.com, 2018). Health issues are a major
concern with malaria being the most prevalent disease in Nigeria. Malaria is an endemic disease
that contributes to mortality and morbidity (Who.int, 2018). About one-third of the malaria
deaths in the world takes place in Nigeria. Despite malaria, diabetes is also a growing major
concern in Nigeria with the highest incidences in sub-Saharan Africa (Danquah, Bedu-Addo and
Mockenhaupt, 2010). One a research carried out in 2008, WHO estimated that about 1.7 million
Nigerians were living diabetes and in 2014 about 4 million were living with diabetes. According
to WHO (2016) diabetes has caused 12,670 and 15,160 deaths in male and females respectively
while malaria has caused 192,284 deaths. Those who are impacted by these health problems are
the lower middle group people between the ages of 30-69 years. In children below five years,
malaria leads as the cause of mortality and morbidity.
Historical Account of Key Events of Health and Evolution
Events of the past have affected Nigeria’s system of public health that is currently used.
Traditional medicine was the system of delivery for healthcare during the pre-western and pre-
western period. Modern medical services were recorded in Nigeria at a time of European
expeditions in the early to mid-19th century. In 1854 expedition, Dr. Baikie introduced the
quinine use, which helped to lower the morbidity and mortality in expeditions. The emergence of
organized services of health care began after the Roman Catholic Mission built the first hospital
in 1885. By 1960, the mission healing centers were more than government claimed doctor's
facilities. Between 1914-1918 when the First World War was ending, several military activities

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emerged with the establishment of numerous military facilities of health care some of them were
left to work as nonmilitary personnel healing centers after the war. With time, a few government-
claimed medicinal services offices were set up, running from country wellbeing focuses to
general healing centers. In 1954, the control of medicinal administrations was exchanged to the
Regional governments, similar to the control of different administrations. In spite of the fact that
the government was in charge of the greater part of the wellbeing-spending plan of the States, the
state governments were allowed to dispense the social insurance spending plan as they
considered suitable which is used at the present time in Nigeria (O., I., and C., 2016).
Constitution of its Systems of Health
The current structure of the health system of Nigeria is based on the universal health
coverage, which aims at scaling up the coverage of health insurance. By the year 2013, the
coverage of universal health was 13% while by 2015 the coverage was 30% (Adeloye et al.,
2017). The Federal Government is to a great extent in charge of giving approach direction,
arranging and specialized help, and organizing state-level usage of the health policy nationally
and building up wellbeing administration data frameworks. Furthermore, the Federal government
is in charge of infection observation; tranquilize control, immunization administration and
preparing wellbeing experts. The Federal Government is additionally in charge of the
supervision of training, mental and orthopedic healing amenities and controls some restorative
focuses.
The Ministries of Health and the local governments distribute the duty regarding
administration of wellbeing offices and projects. The states work the auxiliary wellbeing offices
(general doctor's facilities) and now and again tertiary doctor's facilities, and some essential

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medicinal services offices. The training of medical attendants and specialists of maternity help to
support government projects of healthcare (Collections.infocollections.org, 2018).
The federal government established the insurance scheme of Nigeria in order to
rejuvenate health status of the state that was worsening. The minister of health first proposed the
scheme in 1962 under the bill to parliament. The scheme aims to ensure that every citizen of
Nigeria gets access to services of good health care and to protect the country’s citizens from the
burden of finances in medical bills. It also aims to ensure that services of healthcare are efficient
by ensuring that there is equitability in the distribution of costs of health care among various
income groups in the country. The scheme was designed to health facilities are distributed
adequately in the federation and to maintain high standards of delivery services for healthcare
(Adeyi, 2016). However, the objectives of the health system have not been achieved so far as the
healthcare conveyance keeps on being restricted. This is demonstrative of the elevated newborn
child death rate/deprived maternal consideration, scoundrel anticipation as at 2010, and review
flare-up of a similar infection, and in addition, the significant lot spent for control of the various
outbreaks.
Current insights demonstrate that wellbeing foundations rendering social insurance in
Nigeria are 33,303 general doctor's facilities, 20,278 essential healthcare focuses and posts, and
59 showing healing center and government medicinal focuses (Oyekale, 2017). This speaks to a
colossal change with respect to the most recent decades; in any case, healthcare insurance
establishment keeps on torment deficiency. Regardless of the different changes to expand the
arrangement of wellbeing to the Nigerian individuals, wellbeing access is just 43.3%. The
insufficiency of the medicinal services conveyance framework in Nigeria could be ascribed to
the impossible to miss socioeconomics of its people. Around 55% of the populace reside in the

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country zones and just ~45% stay in the metropolitan zones. Private vendors and only 30%
provide about 70% of the health care by the legislature. More than 70% of medications
apportioned are substandard. Thus, the insufficiency of the NIHS had as of late been credited to
the way that the plan speaks to just 40% of the whole populace, and 52-60% is utilized in the
casual area (Rvo.nl, 2018). The government of Nigeria finance and provide healthcare to all
citizens via the special scheme of health insurance for government employees as well as private
firms that enter into contracts with private providers of health care.
The Country’s position Worldwide regarding Health Measurements and Indicators
Nigeria is ranked 187 out of 190 in world health system with inefficient and inadequate
facilities of health. Comparing Nigeria with other sub-Saharan countries such as Rwanda, most
of its health indicators such as immunization coverage, child mortalities, life expectancy, poverty
index, prevalence of contraceptives, and improved accessibility to drinking water among others,
Nigeria ranks behind. As indicated by the most recent WHO information distributed in 2018,
Nigeria has a World Life Expectancy positioning of 178. In addition, as indicated by the most
recent WHO information distributed in 2017, Malaria Deaths in Nigeria achieved 112,371 or
5.53% of aggregate deaths. The age balanced Death Rate is 35.87 for every 100,000 of populace
ranks Nigeria #25 in the world. Diabetes Mellitus Deaths in Nigeria achieved 30,922 or 1.52% of
aggregate death (Ogbera, 2014). The age balanced Death Rate is 43.92 for each 100,000 of
populace where Nigeria is ranked 50 worldwide (WHO, 2018). It implies that health issues are a
major concern that Nigeria is currently facing with higher death rates caused by diseases as
compared to other countries in the world.
The death rate is rate is 12.40 per 1000 lives ranking 19 worldwide while the birth rate is
36.90 per 1000 lives ranking 13 worldwide. The most risk factors are alcohol abuse, smoking,

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and obesity. The leading cause of death is pneumonia and influenza with 305,460 accounting for
about 15.03% of all deaths in Nigeria. The second leading is diseases of diarrhoeal and the third
leading is tuberculosis with 9.16% and 8.62% of total deaths respectively. According to this
statistics, these numbers have increased as compared to previous years (World Life Expectancy,
2018). The life expectancy has increased over the past 8 years. The life expectancy of Nigeria is
higher future than South Africa, Niger, and Cameroon, however, lingers behind Kenya, Rwanda,
and Ethiopia. Transmittable ailments like intestinal sickness, loose bowels, bring down
respiratory infections, and HIV is yet ending the lives of numerous Nigerians. Newborn children
and kids are at a specific hazard from these ailments, and neonatal diseases such as sepsis and
encephalopathy kill a large number of infants.
Future Prediction of the Health of its Population
The statistics obtained can be used to predict the future of Nigeria in the context of global
social and health issues. There is the anticipated increment in the frequency and pervasiveness of
maladies, low per capita salary of most Nigerians, ineffectively created medical services
framework and the present issues where the transcendent methods for securing healthcare
administrations is a test. The previously mentioned elements will result in expanded quantities of
people with the intricacies of illnesses especially against the scenery of compelled healthcare
spending plan by different levels of governments. There is a requirement for the government to
expand the budgetary designation for wellbeing as prescribed by the WHO (Welcome, 2011).
Currently, there are major transitions taking place in the world especially in Nigeria and Africa.
They range from transitions of demographics to such as population structures to industrial
revolutions, which all interconnect to planetary health. These implications have a significant
impact to the future of social and health issues of Nigeria. Considering all these factors that

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ranges from major transitions to revolutions, I can predict that Nigeria’s future as well as the
health of its population is bright.

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References
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Adeyi, O. (2016). Health System in Nigeria: From Underperformance to Measured
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