The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Monday decried Nigerians’ low interest to know their health status and called for continuous awareness to prevent diseases.
Dr Tope Ojo, the Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of NMA, said this at a health awareness programme organised by the association at the Ojuelegba Motor Park, Lagos.
Ojo said that the awareness level of many Nigerians concerning their health status was still very poor.
“The government and other non-governmental organisations have been making efforts to educate people on their health, yet the knowledge of many is still very poor.
“For example, on the issue of smoking, lots of people do not understand why they are not supposed to smoke in public places.
“A lot of health issues are directly related to smoking, whether as a smoker or passive smoker.
“But if we continue to educate people about health hazards they may become aware.
“The cardinal thing we must stress is that it is better to prevent disease, and not by medication, but by education,“ he said.
The chairman said that the association would ensure that doctors and other stakeholders in the health sector continue to create awareness about the importance of taking care of one’s health.
According to him, when more people become aware, there will be lesser diseases, people will become more productive and the economy will be better for it.
Also speaking, Dr Peter Ogunnubi, the Deputy Secretary of the association, said that the level of health awareness in Nigeria was below five per cent.
Ogunnubi identified African culture, degree of education, less interest in acquiring knowledge about health and inadequate primary healthcare facilities as challenges that contributed to the low level of awareness.
“Nigerians have less interest to know their health status, hence, their lack of desire to understand issues about health.
“ We are still doing poorly in the area of primary healthcare.
“This awareness we are creating is the duty of the primary healthcare board which is supposed to be closer to the community.
“Within five minutes, we should be able to walk down to a healthcare centre and there should be community nurses, who should be doing house to house visitation, but we do not have such.
“So, if Nigeria can rejuvenate its primary healthcare system, people will resort to visiting the centres for treatment and other health issues,“ he said.
In his remarks, Dr Martins Momoh, the Chairman of NMA’s National Committee on NiMSA (Nigerian Medical Students Association), said that communication and proper information were keys to attitudinal and social change.
“If people get to know the consequences and import of their activities and actions, it will influence change.
“NMA is telling people the ills in drug abuse, in smoking, and not checking of blood pressure,’’ Momoh said.
