By JKNewsMedia
CALLS FOR urgent action have intensified as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark World Heart Day 2025.
Made by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), the organisation has appealed to the federal and state governments to adopt robust, evidence-based food and tobacco control measures aimed at tackling cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday, CAPPA also urged policymakers to urgently implement mandatory salt reduction targets, introduce an effective sugar-sweetened beverages tax of at least N130 per litre, enforce front-of-pack warning labels on packaged and ultra-processed foods, restrict advertising and marketing of junk foods, tobacco and smokeless nicotine products to children, and increase tobacco taxes to at least 100 per cent.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s Executive Director, said government authorities should remain committed to earmarking revenues from these taxes for strengthening the country’s health sector.
“These measures are proven, cost-effective interventions that will save lives and protect families from the devastating health and financial burdens of heart disease and related illnesses,” he said.
The statement strongly established a direct link between unhealthy diets and cardiovascular disease, stressing that excessive salt and sugar consumption raises the risk of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.
It also highlighted that tobacco use causes severe damage to the heart and blood vessels, raising the risks of stroke and heart attacks.
According to CAPPA, the burden of cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria is already severe.
The Nigerian Cardiac Society recently reported that one-third of Nigerian adults live with high blood pressure, with some regions recording rates as high as 40 per cent.
One-third of hypertensive Nigerians are undiagnosed, while another third have uncontrolled blood pressure despite being aware of their condition.
The organisation also pointed to gaps in healthcare infrastructure, noting that as of 2021, only 13 centres in Nigeria were conducting heart surgery, with just 80 heart surgeons serving a population of over 200 million.
The cost of heart surgery has also risen significantly, from about N3 million to between N5.5 million on average in 2024, making lifesaving treatment inaccessible to most families.
The release, signed by Robert Egbe, CAPPA’s Media and Communication Officer, said the crisis is aggravated by the limited reach of the country’s health system.
It cited data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which shows cardiovascular diseases claim 17.9 million lives globally each year, with over 75 percent of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria.
WHO also notes that most of these deaths are preventable through policies that address key risk factors such as tobacco use, high salt and sugar consumption, lack of physical activity, and alcohol abuse.
The annual commemoration of World Heart Day is intended to raise awareness of cardiovascular diseases, empower people to live healthier lives, and encourage governments to create supportive environments for heart health.
This includes expanding healthcare access, adopting strict nutrition and tobacco control policies, promoting physical activity through safe walking and cycling infrastructure, and reducing air pollution.
CAPPA emphasised that Nigeria cannot rely solely on individual responsibility to address cardiovascular and non-communicable diseases.
The organisation stated that government policies must create enabling environments that make healthy choices easier and more accessible for Nigerians.
“By reducing salt in processed foods, introducing bold warning labels, increasing taxes on sugary drinks and tobacco, and restricting harmful marketing, Nigeria can significantly cut down the rising burden of heart disease,” the statement noted.
CAPPA further stressed that such policies would not only improve public health but also reduce long-term healthcare costs, boost productivity, and strengthen economic growth.
The organisation called on federal and state governments to take decisive action without delay.
“We urge policymakers to put people before profits by adopting strong food and tobacco control measures. Protecting our hearts means protecting the country’s future,” it concluded.
