The Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) has disclosed that over 200,000 Nigerians die from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) yearly. This alarming statistic was made public in Lagos at an event marking the 2026 World Heart Day (WHD), with the theme, ‘Healthy Hearts: From the Classroom to the Families’. The foundation emphasized the need for Nigerians to adopt heart-healthy lifestyles from childhood to mitigate the country's disease burden.
According to the NHF, CVDs account for 19.8 million of the 63 million deaths recorded globally each year. In Nigeria, more than 235,000 people die from these diseases yearly. The foundation noted that at least 80 per cent of premature deaths from heart disease could be avoided if five major risk factors, including tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol, and air pollution, were controlled.
The Executive Director of NHF, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye, stated that the foundation's focus on schools aims to take heart-health education to the grassroots and instill healthy values in students. He urged teachers to promote healthy diets and physical activity among pupils, emphasizing that heart disease begins at an early age and accumulates over the years. Akinroye also warned that symptoms of CVDs could go unnoticed, dismissed, or ignored, urging Nigerians to recognize warning signs and take early action.
The World Heart Federation (WHF) launched the 2026 ‘Don’t Miss a Beat’ campaign to draw attention to heart disease symptoms that can remain unnoticed until it is too late. In line with this, the NHF announced the return of the ‘Keep the Beat’ challenge, encouraging people to become more physically active throughout September. Akinroye called for greater attention to cardiovascular health, including national action plans and universal access to treatment, to reduce deaths from the diseases.
The Nigerian Cardiac Society (NCS) also marked WHD in Abuja, noting a growing population that has increased demand for cardiovascular healthcare services. President of the society, Prof. Rasaaq Adebayo, stated that although the government has made progress in improving healthcare facilities and services, more needs to be done. He emphasized the need for the government to strengthen CVD prevention, expand screening, and improve treatment for Nigerians living with heart disease.
Prof. Adebayo noted that Nigerians have become more conscious of physical exercise compared to previous decades, but more needs to be done to reduce sedentary lifestyles. He also warned that increasing automation is contributing to sedentary lifestyles. Meanwhile, Professor of Medicine and Consultant Cardiologist, Amam Mbakwe, called for cardiovascular screening to be incorporated into the primary healthcare system to tackle the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases.
Experts, including Prof. Ejiroghene Umuerri, Secretary-General of the NCS, emphasized the need for increased local production of cardiovascular medicines to reduce costs. They noted that many cardiovascular medicines are on Nigeria's Essential Medicines List and relatively affordable but are often imported, increasing treatment costs. Key stakeholders continue to advocate for comprehensive measures to address the country's cardiovascular disease burden.
Key points
- Over 200,000 Nigerians die from cardiovascular diseases yearly.
- The Nigerian Heart Foundation urges heart-healthy lifestyles from childhood to mitigate the country's disease burden.
- Experts call for strengthened CVD prevention, expanded screening, and improved treatment to address the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases.
