Experts Prescribe Enough Sleep, Green Community Against Non-Communicable Diseases

Ayodeji Ake

Medical Expert,  Dr. Godswill Iboma, has prescribed preventive measures like adequate sleep, green community, salt intake reduction, and drinking water, among others,  against Non-Communicable Diseases.

Building Workshop, organised by the brand Journalists’ Association of Nigeria (BJAN), recently held in Lagos, themed ‘ Rethinking the NCD Crisis: Having a Holistic Approach to the Debate in Nigeria’, he noted that “sleeping is very important. It repairs cells, gets rid of wastes, and it’s a therapy. Getting the right amount of sleep regularly for age is key.
 

“The green community is another important thing – living in a green community, friendly for exercise, reduces colonic cancer (2021 study on colonic cancer).

 
“Also, by reducing Salt intake, foods low in sodium, high in potassium, magnesium, and calcium, contribute to maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. And drinking more and enough water – 60 per cent of our body is made of water. Water cleanses and purifies body organs, helps avoid kidney stones and Kidney damage, and ensures good and adequate circulation,” he said.

 
In his presentation, Dr. Ajibola Arewa argued that not only sugar, which many assume, is the major cause of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), revealed that urban stress, environmental toxins, inactivity, and poor diet, among others, are factors that can trigger NCDs.

 
He said Nigeria’s average sugar intake is 21 grams per day, which is below the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s 25 grams per day limit.

 
“NGOs are pushing for heavy taxes on  Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), whereas Nigeria’s average sugar intake is 21 grams per day, below WHO’s 25 grams per day limit. Other harmful products like alcohol are not similarly taxed. Nigeria consumes less sugar than the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and South Africa.
Still, NCD rates rise, suggesting other factors are more significant. 

 
“Data shows sugar alone cannot explain the NCD trend. The problem is not sugar itself, but its overuse and lack of regulation. Focus needed on education, clear labeling, and healthy alternatives. NCDs like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are rising. According to WHO, NCD-related deaths rose from 24 to 29 per cent in 2011. Causes of NCDs are related to – poor diet, inactivity, smoking, alcohol, urban stress, and environmental toxins,” he said.

 
Speaking further,  Arewa blamed “weak Nigerian Health Policy.”

 
Policies like the 2013–2017 NCD Action Plan and the 2016 Health Policy exist. Weak implementation, like poor funding, infrastructure, and public awareness, which consequently overburdened hospitals, costly healthcare, and poor prevention,” he lamented.