Researchers and health experts have highlighted the need for intensified efforts to delve into the roots of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to tackle the menace in the West African sub-region.
NCDs, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and chronic respiratory illnesses, pose a major global public health challenge, accounting for an estimated 41 million deaths annually.
A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) in April 2022 highlighted the alarming rate of deaths from NCDs in Africa, where these diseases are increasingly becoming the main cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2019, NCDs were responsible for 37% of deaths, up from 24% in 2000.
