Health - Page 2 - Intelpoint

Five of Nigeria's six North Eastern states rank among the bottom ten states in terms of the number of doctors

The distribution of doctors across Nigeria shows disparities, with regional inequities in healthcare professionals. The North East, with only 2,420 doctors, has the lowest number of doctors among all geopolitical zones. This is less than half of the North West's total and significantly lags behind the South West, which leads with 13,624 doctors. The gender gap is also evident, as there are more male doctors across all regions. Lagos State stands out with 7,385 doctors, far surpassing the next in line, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. Meanwhile, five of the six states in the North East rank among the bottom ten states. N.B. Unspecified bar represents doctors with unverifiable location identities.

The North Eastern region of Nigeria has the fewest doctors, with less than half the number available in the North West

The distribution of doctors across Nigeria shows disparities, with regional inequities in healthcare professionals. The North East, with only 2,420 doctors, has the lowest number of doctors among all geopolitical zones. This is less than half of the North West's total and significantly lags behind the South West, which leads with 13,624 doctors. The gender gap is also evident, as there are more male doctors across all regions. Lagos State stands out with 7,385 doctors, far surpassing the next in line, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. Meanwhile, five of the six states in the North East rank among the bottom ten states. N.B. Unspecified bar represents doctors with unverifiable location identities.

Almost 50% of products registered with NAFDAC from 2020 to 2022 are food and packaged water

Food and packaged water dominate NAFDAC registration, as close to 50% of all products registered between 2020 and 2022 were either food or packaged water. This suggests a significant focus on ensuring the safety and quality of these essential commodities. Human drugs also make up a substantial portion of registered products, reflecting the importance of regulating medications to protect public health. Cosmetics and herbal drugs follow closely with 13.2% and 6.5%, respectively.

Lagos State boasts more than three times the number of dentists in other Nigerian states

Lagos State leads the dental healthcare workforce in Nigeria with an impressive 713 dentists, a figure over three times higher than any other state. This dominance shows Lagos' position as a hub for healthcare professionals. Trailing far behind are the FCT (Abuja) with 208 dentists and Oyo with 185. The gap becomes even more glaring when examining the bottom states like Taraba, with only eight dentists, and others such as Jigawa and Abia, with just nine each. These numbers paint a concerning picture for residents of these regions, who may face long travel distances or extended waiting times to access basic dental care. Interestingly, Borno State, which faces security challenges, has 53 dentists, surpassing several other states.

Lassa fever death rate shows an overall decline, despite a rise in 2023

Lassa fever cases and deaths have shown significant variations over the years, but the death rate decreased in the first ten months of 2024 despite rising in 2023. This downward trend reflects improvements in early detection, medical interventions, and public health measures.

For many communities across Nigeria, Lassa fever remains a serious health concern, especially in rural areas with limited access to healthcare facilities. As efforts to combat the disease intensify, public awareness campaigns, proper hygiene, and access to treatment have played a vital role in reducing fatalities and giving hope to affected families.

Note: Data for 2024 only include the first ten months of the year

The Western Pacific region has 205.6m people living with diabetes, the highest globally

Today, World Diabetes Day, we’re reminded of the urgent need to address the growing impact of diabetes across the globe. This day is a call to action to support preventive measures, raise awareness, and improve healthcare access for those affected by this chronic condition. In the Western Pacific region alone, 205.6 million people are living with diabetes, and it also has one of the highest percentage of diabetes-related deaths (7.0%) in people under 60. By comparison, Europe, while also heavily impacted, reports a lower death rate among this age group. Though Africa has the lowest number of people living with diabetes, it has a high percentage of diabetes-related deaths in people under 60.

27% of the global malaria cases in 2022 were recorded in Nigeria

In 2022, two out of every three of the world’s 249 million malaria cases were found in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria leading the numbers at a staggering 67 million cases.

North Africa accounts for five of Africa's nine malaria-free countries

As of October 2024, only nine African countries are certified malaria-free: Egypt, Cape Verde, Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritius, Libya, Morocco, Seychelles, and Lesotho. Egypt and Cape Verde are the newest members of this group. Over 40 African countries remain uncertified, with the continent recording 233 million malaria cases in 2022.

7 of the top 10 countries with the highest unmet need for contraception are African

On #WorldContraceptionDay, it's vital to highlight that in 2023, many women and girls aged 15 to 49 globally still have unmet contraceptive needs. Samoa (28%), Angola (27%), and Liberia (25%) are among the top 10 countries. Notably, seven of the top 10 are African, underscoring the urgent need for better reproductive health services.

Libya leads Africa with 9.1 dentists per 10,000 people; Nigeria struggles with 0.2

As of 2022, Libya had the highest dentist availability in Africa. Many top African countries have fewer than 5 dentists per 10,000 people, with several falling below 1, and Nigeria at just 0.2. The WHO recommends at least 2 per 10,000 for adequate care.

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