At the third annual African Stroke Organisation Conference in Ibadan, Professor Mayowa Owolabi, co-chair of the African Stroke Organisation Foundation, raised an alarm about the Niger Delta region having the world’s highest prevalence of stroke. Calling for a comprehensive strategy, he emphasized the urgent need for a four-pronged approach encompassing surveillance, prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation to address the escalating cases of stroke in Nigeria.
Professor Owolabi, a neurologist, highlighted the staggering prevalence rate of stroke in the Niger Delta, estimated at 1.4 per 1,000 population. He attributed this alarming statistic to elevated levels of air pollution in the region, among other contributing factors. Speaking on the broader African context, he noted that the continent has the highest incidence of strokes globally.
To combat the rising tide of strokes, Professor Owolabi stressed the importance of early detection and control of hypertension, management of high cholesterol, daily consumption of green leafy vegetables, regular exercise, reduced alcohol intake, smoking cessation, and combating obesity.
“If we don’t take action, the situation is likely to worsen. Six Africans are developing a stroke every minute, and at least one Nigerian is developing a stroke every minute,” warned Professor Owolabi. He emphasized the need to implement the stroke quadrangle, involving surveillance, prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation, with the African Stroke Organisation actively collaborating with stakeholders to alleviate the burden of strokes on the continent.
Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, conveyed through Dr. Debbie Odoh, the National Coordinator for Non-communicable Disease Division, shared concerning statistics. He stated that one in four persons in Nigeria is likely to experience a stroke, with the fatality rate increasing from 21.2 percent to 40 percent over a 30-day period. In response, plans are underway to establish a national stroke registry and guidelines for prevention and management.
Furthermore, the minister announced the initiation of a nationwide screening program for hypertension, aiming to screen 80 percent of the eligible population, provide standard treatment for 80 percent of those with hypertension, and ensure sustained blood pressure control in 80 percent of treated patients. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to achieve a 25 percent reduction in premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases and non-communicable diseases, including strokes.
In support of these initiatives, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, represented by Professor Aderonke Baiyeroju, called for routine hypertension screening, the establishment of stroke units in health institutions, and the promotion of universal health coverage to facilitate broader access to recommended stroke interventions and essential medicines.
