Doctor cardiologist with red heart in the hospital
Worldwide, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), with attendant heart attacks and strokes, are among the leading causes of death.
In Nigeria, bold steps are being made towards a future where CVD are no longer death sentences; a future where CVDs can be prevented, detected early, and treated effectively through strong, community-based care.
As part of efforts to commemorate World Heart Day 2025, themed “Don’t Miss a Beat,” medical experts and public health leaders are calling for renewed investment in Primary Health Care (PHC) as the foundation for a heart-healthy nation.
One of Nigeria’s leading cardiologists, Dr Oladipupo Fasan, Head of Cardiology at the National Hospital, Abuja, emphasised the critical role of PHC in managing cardiovascular health at the grassroots level.
“Doctors, nurses, and community health workers need better training and clear protocols to identify and manage early-stage cardiovascular issues and refer complicated cases appropriately.”
He said that in 2022, data from World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that cardiovascular diseases remained the leading causes of death globally claiming 19.8 million lives.
According to him, Nigeria has an opportunity to lead the way in proactive, community-driven solutions.
“Nigeria is home to a vast network of PHC centres and a growing cadre of trained health professionals.
“Strengthening this system to manage non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension and diabetes is key to preventing complications like stroke and heart failure.
“Encouragingly, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is already integrating NCD care into PHC services through task-shifting and task-sharing, in line with WHO protocols.
“The WHO protocol is fantastic, but it needs to be implemented quickly.”
Fasan said that that task-shifting empowered community health workers to perform screenings and counsel patients, easing the burden on over-stretched doctors.
“This approach ensures that even remote communities have access to preventive heart care.
“To build on this momentum, experts recommend: Training PHC workers in cardiovascular risk screening, early detection, and referral.
“Equipping PHC centres with basic diagnostic tools like blood pressure cuffs, glucometers, and ECG machines and establishing clear clinical protocols for managing CVDs at the PHC level.
“Strengthening staffing to ensure adequate, trained personnel across all centres and ensuring a steady supply of essential medicines, especially for blood pressure and diabetes management.”
According to him, these investments will turn PHC centres into true wellness hubs, empowering Nigerians to live longer, healthier lives.
He also emphasised that public awareness and lifestyle changes were the most cost-effective ways to reduce heart disease risk.
Fasan said that simple, everyday habits could protect the heart–regular exercise, eating a healthy, balanced diet and reducing salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats.
“Others are avoiding tobacco, managing stress and attending regular health checkups.
“We need to bridge the gaps in awareness and treatment; for those unaware, we must educate them; for those who need treatment, it must be accessible, affordable, and consistent.
“Routine blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar checks can make a life-saving difference; with the right information, Nigerians are empowered to take charge of their health,” he said.
Prof. Augustine Odili, President of Nigerian Cardiac Society (NCS), said one of the most promising initiatives came from NCS, which unveiled the “Bring Back to Life” programme.
He said the initiatives were aimed at training everyday Nigerians in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), ensuring more lives could be saved during emergencies.
“Everyone, regardless of age, should know how to perform CPR.”
Alongside training, he said Nigeria had also developed its own Public Access Defibrillator, a device designed to be installed in high-traffic public areas like markets, airports, and motor parks.
“These tools and trainings are transforming bystanders into lifesavers, shifting the narrative from “slump and die” to “slump and live.”
He said that in recognising the high cost of CVD treatments, which could reach up to N12 million for open-heart surgery, the NCS was calling for stronger government support.
“We are calling on government to make it more sustainable so we can build a heart-healthy society,” he said.
Odili said that the society had urged the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to include cardiovascular treatments in its coverage.
He said it would make life-saving interventions more accessible to everyday Nigerians, regardless of income.
At the national level, Lanre Issa-Oniru, Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), stressed the need for community-based education.
He advocated taking heart health awareness campaigns to churches, Mosques, schools, and markets.
“Public health is everybody’s business,” he said.
On the research front, the NCS and the Pan African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR) are building a foundation of reliable data through national cardiac registers and research task forces.
Under the leadership of the immediate past NCS President, Dr Okechukwu Ogah, the efforts informed health policies in Nigeria and beyond.
“We formed several task forces to tackle cardiovascular challenges in Nigeria,” said Ogah.
He said the recent PASCAR conference in Abuja united healthcare leaders, policymakers, and civil society actors from across Africa.
According to Prof. Elijah Ogola, President of PASCAR, the society continuously updates healthcare workers, not just doctors and cardiologists, but the full spectrum of professionals.
He stressed that every role mattered in heart care, from researchers to rural health workers, and that communities must be empowered through education to make informed choices.
As Nigeria and Africa face rising CVD cases, experts say the tools, knowledge, and leadership to respond are already in place.
“With coordinated action, early detection, and public engagement, a future of stronger hearts and stronger communities is within reach.
“This World Heart Day—and every day—we are reminded: Time lost is heart lost; but with the right policies, partnerships, and people, every beat can be protected.
“On steps toward a heart-healthy Nigeria: Strengthen and equip PHC centres, train more health workers in cardiovascular care and promote prevention through lifestyle and awareness campaigns.
“Expand insurance coverage for CVD treatment, roll out CPR training and public defibrillators nationwide, support data-driven research and planning and enforce food industry regulations that encourage healthy living,” a public expert said.
Stakeholders say there is a need to continue building a future where no one is left behind, and every heartbeat counts. (NANFeatures)
