The Federal Government has commemorated the maiden National Health Promotion Day (HPD).
The HPD aims to promote healthy living among Nigerians, and has ‘Health Promotion: The Catalyst for Sustainable Health and Wellbeing of Nigerians’ as its theme.
The maiden edition of the day was held on Tuesday, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Federal Ministry of Health developed the National Health Promotion Policy in 2006 to strengthen the health promotion capacity of the National Health System to deliver healthcare that is promotive, protective, preventive, restorative and rehabilitative to every citizen.
At the HPD commemoration, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, emphasised the significance of the day, saying “this day serves as a pivotal milestone for Nigeria and sets an example for other countries globally.”
He added that the commemoration came about as a collaborative decision made during the National Council on Health in November 2023 to establish a dedicated day for health promotion.
According to him, the goal is to save lives, alleviate both physical and financial burden, and ensure access to health for all citizens.
Pate noted the increasing prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer as urgent health challenges, most of which are preventable.
He stressed the critical need for public awareness and education to mitigate the health issues, noting that “to combat NCDs, the Federal Government, in collaboration with states, unveiled the ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign.
“The 10 Million Project, a nationwide campaign, encourages citizens to monitor their blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels regularly, aimed at tracking potential health issues before they escalate.”
The minister, therefore, urged Nigerians to engage in personal health management, advocating for regular health check-ups, healthy lifestyle choices, and mental health awareness.
He added that “by promoting health and preventing diseases, we not only enhance individual well-being, but also reduce the strain on our healthcare system.”
Dr Alex Chimbaru, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Deputy Country Representative to Nigeria, said health promotion is essential, as it enables people to increase control over their own health.
He said “it covers a wide range of social and environmental interventions designed to benefit and protect individual people’s health and quality of life by addressing and preventing the root causes of ill health, not just focusing on treatment and cure.”
The Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Dr Ejike Oji, said that the burden of healthcare costs on families underscores the need for preventive approaches to diseases.
This, he said, would reduce disease prevalence and improve wellbeing.
NAN also reports that the HPD marks the beginning of renewed focus on public health in Nigeria, aiming to foster a culture of wellness and prevention that can serve as a model for other nations in the future. (NAN)
