Nigeria
By being overpopulated Nigeria can not ensure all get proper health care services and treatment. Their lack of physicians, 0.38 physicians per 1,000 population, prevents them from being able to help their people. The fact that Nigeria has the largest population being 190.9 million as of 2017, amongst any African nation worsens their issues. They lack proper sanitation, struggle with drinking water and due to this, many of their people are at very high risk of contracting major infectious diseases. As of last year, there were more than 1.9 million of the population with HIV or AIDs. Also, almost 32% of children under the age 5 years old suffer from being underweight.
Nigeria has made significant progress towards their third SDG, beginning with causes of death and disease. According to the UNDP, they have increased their life expectancy and decreased their infant and mortality rates. (UNDP) Nigeria put forth the "Private Sector Engagement Strategy" to implement their SDGs and improve. Also, their president appointed a senior specialist assistant to the President on sustainable development goals, recently inaugurated a private sector advisory group and donors forum on the SDGs to "harness the resources and ideas" of, and "effectively engage other stakeholders."
Climate Change effects sustainable development because it threatens the environment of the people. It effects the water, the air, pollution, and spread of disease. Nigeria is one of the most urbanized countries in the world. (49.8%) According to the national report, "this poses some challenges of basic services for all in terms of safe water. and sanitation." They are currently under threat of natural and man-made disasters such as, drought, erosion and flooding due to climate change. Nigeria contains resources of oil, agriculture, telecommunications and services. With these, Nigeria can increase their economy and their number of physicians to help the people in need. As a result, their population of the infected with malaria and HIV has been cut in half since they have began their implementation of their strategy of the SDGs.
The United States formerly has had an issue with infectious diseases, such as Ebola or the zika virus in the past. We have not had any epidemics derived from United States soil. Most fatal diseases that have been treated, such as Ebola or Malaria, have been brought from a foreign country. Nigeria has made great progress by decreasing their issues and spread of disease, especially without having the same or similar resources provided in the United States. They both have made great progress and continue to grow along with their population.
Goal 3: Good health and well-being: UNDP in Nigeria. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2019, from https://www.ng.undp.org/content/nigeria/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-3-good-health-and-well-being.html.
Kissi, D. (2019, June 12). Nigeria celebrates its democracy but millions remain in poverty. Retrieved November 6, 2019, from https://www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/nigeria-celebrates-democracy-millions-remain-poverty-190611205805432.html.
Nigeria. (2019, November 5). Retrieved November 6, 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria.
Nigeria .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. (n.d.). Retrieved November 6, 2019, from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/memberstates/nigeria.
The World Factbook: Nigeria. (2019, October 29). Retrieved November 6, 2019, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ni.html.
Your post was very informative because to be honest, I always thought Nigeria was one the "well off" parts of Africa. A lot of people always associate them with fine jewelry and nice clothing. I was unaware of how their country was struggling in health and well-being. I think it is great to see that they have made improvements to their tragedies. I also feel like a lot countries that have a high population would have issues with caring for all. It would interesting to see how Nigeria has decreased the spread of infectious disease because with their high population, I would think that they would still have these issues.
ReplyDeleteMa'K'La,
ReplyDeleteThis blog regarding Nigeria and it's good health and well-being struggles, was very eye-opening for me. I was mostly surprised to learn that the physician to population ratio, is so drastic in Nigeria. It is disheartening that most of the population in Nigeria does not have access to proper healthcare, thus depriving people of basic needs and causing more infections and diseases. Furthermore, I was concerned when you mentioned about the infant mortality rate in your introduction. However, It was later comforting to learn that Nigeria with the help of UNDP has worked to decrease the infant mortality rate. These children who are born into unfortunate situations, deserve a chance to survive and experience the world, without having to suffer even before gaining proper conscious.
Thank you so much for sharing all this information about Nigeria. I learned a lot from this blog.
- Madi.
hey mak'k'la
ReplyDeleteI did not know Nigeria was so overpopulated always thought that Nigeria was one of the more well off countries and Africa but its eye opening to see what problems plague Nigeria currently and how the government is taking action and putting plans and committees in place to help combat it.
Hello Ma’k’la
ReplyDeleteJust reading your post is painful as a mom of two boys. It can sound commonplace, but I do not imagine anything happening to my boys, or not having access to the health services necessary for them, especially for my youngest one that was born with several issues. After reading your blog, I started reading about how Nigeria is fighting maternal mortality. I think the issues you mentioned, such as AIDS, are important to know more about. It is important to take care of the mothers and teach them about health and prevention, so they can take care of their children and be advocates for them. The trend in Maternal Mortality shows that from 1990 to 2015, Nigeria had approximately 58,000 deaths. Now this country is putting the effort in reducing the high maternal mortality rate by having partners like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that help support the government and community. Nigeria is also working to improve the knowledge of health workers to address interventions in pregnant women (World Health Organization, 2018). It is important to reduce global maternal mortality by increasing the amount of health workers, applying guidelines, and taking preventive measures with pregnant women.
Great post!
Karina Aguirre
World Health Organization ( 2018). Nigeria fights high maternal mortality through improved quality of care. Retrieved from https://www.afro.who.int/news/nigeria-fights-high-maternal-mortality-through-improved-quality-care
Mak'k'la,
ReplyDeleteI thought you did a really good job on your post and it was well thought out. I was shocked to see the alarmingly low ratio of physicians to the population. There is no way that everyone can be ensured health care. This would also cause the quality of healthcare to decrease because they are trying to rush their patients in and out. I think that it is important that more people know about this issue to maybe there will be more people to step in and help out. Its good to hear that their private sector emergency plan has helped and improved the issue. I was not aware of how much this was a problem in this country but I am glad that I was able to learn from your post.