The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is concerned about the negative health effects urbanization has on the country's people. In the words of the NMA state chairman, Dr. Phillip Ugbodaga, " it has been shown that movement of people from rural to urban areas often alters the characteristic epidemiological disease profile and at the same time, new diseases emerge and old ones re-emerge." He also feels that with urbanization comes changes in diet and exercise which increase the number of diabetes cases and cardiovascular disease. He noted that children were susceptible to disease when they are born and developed in an environment characterized by overcrowding, poor hygeine and lack of space for recreation and study. To add to these views of Dr. Ugbodaga, the World Bank expects cities will become the predominant sites of poverty within the next 25 years. "...Therefore, our goal must be to draw the attention of government and to involve them in a shared effort to put health at the heart of urban policy" Dr. Ugdodaga.
I agree with Dr. Ugbodaga and the NMA's goal of putting health at the top of the list on urban policy. There is no need in trying to increase the urban population if everyone is becoming sicker. I do think the government need to be heavily involved in this situation. Most countries love the idea of a growing city population for economic reasons, but if more diseases are emerging and poverty is increasing, urbanization in Nigeria is more of a hurt and not a help to the country.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/11/urbanization-hazards-worries-edo-nma/
No comments:
Post a Comment