Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development

The World Hypertension Day (May 17) is being celebrated worldwide. This year commemoration began today with free health screening and public awareness at the Federal Ministry of Health secretariat jointly supported by LISDEL and other partners Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria

The "Silent Epidemic" can't wait!

Yesterday, LISDEL met with the BHCPF to ensure that health funding in Nigeria evolves with the needs of the people. While we celebrate successes in maternal health, we are sounding the alarm on NCDs like diabetes and hypertension.

Highlights from the visit:

Community Voice: Victor raised the need for better reporting systems to stop "foul treatment" at facilities.

The Goal: Pushing for an increase in funding (2% of CRF) to make healthcare affordable for all.

The Promise: BHCPF is opening doors for us to meet with the Minister of Health and top directors to finalize these critical links between communities and clinics.

Scaling up advocacy, one ward at a time! 🚀

The first day of the Capacity Strengthening Workshop on Public Financing for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and the Implementation of NCDs National Multisectoral Action Plan (MSAP), held on April 8, 2026, focused on establishing the urgency of the NCD crisis in Nigeria and identifying the systemic gaps in how these diseases are funded.
• Participation: The workshop saw attendance from 14 Ministries, 13 agencies, the National Assembly, and various development partners.
• A "First" for Nigeria: The event was recognized as one of the country's first dedicated workshop focusing specifically on public financing for NCDs.
Technical Insights: Burden and Financing Gaps
• Rising Trends: Technical presentations highlighted cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancers are driving a significant financial burden on households.
• The "6% Gap": Despite recent increases, NCD funding accounts for only about 6% of the total health budget, which is disproportionately low compared to the actual disease burden.
• Systemic Bottlenecks: A Capacity Needs Assessment across 27 MDAs revealed low budget alignment with the NCD Multi-sectoral Action Plan (MSAP), poor fund release, and a lack of transparent financial tracking systems.
Advocacy and Implementation Strategies
• Political Economy Analysis (PEA): Professor Emmanuel Alhassan (GHAI) emphasized that advocacy must move beyond "appropriation". Success depends on understanding power dynamics to ensure actual fund releases and cash-backing.
• Tracking Tools: To improve accountability, the workshop introduced the NCD Budget Tracker to enhance transparency in how funds are managed across sectors.
• Sectoral Roadmaps: Participants engaged in group work to develop actionable roadmaps for 2026, aiming to optimize budget performance within their respective MDAs.
Key Takeaways
• Budget ex*****on is just as critical as budget allocation; simply having a line item is not enough.
• Effective NCD response requires multisectoral collaboration across finance, education, and agriculture, rather than viewing it solely as a health ministry issue.
The day concluded with a call to translate these technical discussions into actionable outcomes to improve NCD financing and patient results in Nigeria.

Health stakeholders are uniting to advocate for increased funding for non-communicable diseases, with the Federal Ministry of Health leading the initiative in partnership with LISDEL and GHAI.

Overindulging in rich foods and alcohol can lead to what doctors call Holiday Heart Syndrome. This is a sudden onset of irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) in otherwise healthy people. By keeping your "heart beat" in check—meaning maintaining a steady, calm rhythm—you avoid that scary fluttering sensation that can land you in the ER right in the middle of a family dinner.

The goal of Easter is to celebrate life and renewal. Keeping your blood pressure under control (ideally around 120/80 mmHg) isn't just about today; it's about making sure you are there for many more Easters to come.

A Gentle Reminder: If you are on blood pressure medication, don't "take a holiday" from your pills just because it’s a holiday. Consistency is the key to a safe celebration!