Don Maps Legal Landscape for Cardiovascular Care

Professor Adeseye Abiodun Akintunde, a distinguished scholar in Cardiovascular Medicine at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, has called upon the Nigerian government to create and implement regulatory measures aimed at improving cardiovascular healthcare within the nation.

Professor Akintunde delivered his speech during the presentation of the 64th Inaugural Lecture at the university, with the title, "The Heart and Its Poisonous Murmurs of Disruptions: Separating the wheat from the chaff," held at the University Auditorium in Ogbomoso.

He argued that the government must implement strong measures to integrate routine screenings for cardiovascular disease risks into healthcare practices in Nigeria. This includes stringent regulations on diet, drug use, and substance abuse, enforcing bans on smoking, controlling alcohol and energy drink consumption, managing air quality, and enhancing workplace safety to prevent heart diseases among the populace. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of fostering collaborative efforts amongst key players in cardiac health care to benefit the broader community.

When outlining fundamental cardiovascular care to encompass the management of simple CV risk factors at primary healthcare facilities, as well as during antenatal and HIV services, he urged "the government, non-governmental organizations, and other key players to promote collaborative educational initiatives for the public on preventing and protecting against CVD."

He advocated for the establishment of regular, compulsory cardiovascular screenings across the nation and promoted the nationwide implementation of the Know Your Numbers initiative (a program designed to screen for hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and diabetes), as these factors contribute to 90 percent of overall cardiovascular risk within the population.

As he advocated for integrating cardiovascular services into the National Health Insurance Scheme and providing discounted medications to maintain consistent treatment for those affected by CVD, he also pushed for improved funding for cardiac care. This includes expanding access to heart devices and setting up six regional hubs for both open and closed-heart procedures in Nigeria. He suggested sponsorships should be secured to uphold professional standards and boost availability.

Akintunde noted that implementing a task-sharing and task-shifting approach for cardiovascular care within populations—alongside consistent training and supervision of healthcare providers—can engage non-physician health workers to manage simpler aspects of managing CVD risk factors.

He also canvassed for Increase funding for research into cardiovascular disease, with the potential to provide breakthrough therapies for Africans with heart diseases.

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