Professor Isaac Adewole: Health minister

Prof. Amam Mbakwem, President, Nigerian Cardiac Society, says the current economic recession is aggravating cardiovascular disease burden in the country.

This is apart from environmental factors like air pollution, she said.

Mbakwem told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that following the recession, many cardiovascular patients could no longer afford their medication.

She added that because of the prevailing situation, many of those patients now consume whatever comes their way thereby compounding their health conditions.

On environmental factors, Mbakwem noted that all sorts of fume from generators, cars and pipeline vandalism were being release into the air and had negative effect on the heart.

She urged the Federal Government to address the problem of the power sector, saying that if there is regular power supply the people would desist from use of generating sets.

Mbakwem said that concerted efforts were required to reduce cardiovascular diseases burden in the country.

“Cardiovascular disease can be caused by environmental pollution which results from pipeline vandalism, economic recession and smoking, among others.

“Since the economy is dangling government can come in either by subsidising drugs for the treatment of the diseases so that people can afford them.’’ (NAN)