Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development

18/05/2026

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

15/05/2026

CONTROLLING HYPERTENSION IN NIGERIA: EXPERT SPEAKS ON MANAGING THE DISEASE
The rising number of Nigerians living with hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, has become a major public health concern, with experts calling for urgent measures to curb the trend and prevent related complications.
Professor of Psychology, Emmanuel Alhassan, on the Programme Good Morning Nigeria, emphasized the importance of proper stress management and adherence to prescribed medications for those already diagnosed with the condition.

14/05/2026

Nigeria's Hypertension Burden: Budget, Policy and the Path Forward
Join the conversation on NTA News 24 (DSTV Channel 419) Friday 15 May, 7:30AM in commemoration of the World Hypertension Day (WHD)

06/05/2026

Stakeholders have called for urgent measures to address barriers to effective public health financing for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria.

At a capacity-strengthening workshop for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on public financing for NCDs and the implementation of the NCD Multi-Sectoral Action Plan (NCD-MSAP), participants identified low budgetary prioritisation, weak donor interest, and fragmented funding as key challenges driving high out-of-pocket spending.

National Coordinator of the NCD Division at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Alayo Sopekan, noted that although the government has introduced taxes on alcohol, sugar-sweetened beverages, and to***co since 2015, the proceeds are not being channelled toward addressing NCDs.

Policy and Advocacy Officer at LISDEL, Olympus Adebanjo, highlighted poor alignment between MDAs’ budgets and the NCD-MSAP, with some agencies achieving as little as 23 per cent alignment.

“About 45 per cent of MSAP activities receive no allocation at all, and even where funds are budgeted, they are often not clearly identifiable,” he said.

24/04/2026

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! 🚀

22/04/2026

Strategic Advocacy: Taking the Fight Against Hypertension to the National Assembly
On April 21, 2026, the APH-FIP Project team—a collaboration between GHAI and LISDEL—held a high-stakes advocacy visit with the Honorable Amos Magaji, Chairman of the House Committee on Healthcare Services.
The mission was clear: Make hypertension a national priority.
📍 Key Highlights from the Meeting:
Budgetary Protection: Hon. Magaji committed to advocating for independent budget lines for hypertension, potentially making it a "first-line charge" to ensure funds reach the people, not administrative overhead.
The 2% Goal: Legislative efforts are underway to increase the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) from 1% to 2% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Hospitals of the Future: The chairman emphasized that strengthening Primary Health Care (PHCs) and enforcing health insurance are the ultimate keys to managing Nigeria's NCD burden.
Data-Driven Advocacy: There is a critical need for a national hypertension dashboard to track performance and risk factors, providing the evidence needed to unlock funding from the Ministry of Finance.
🚀 What’s Next?
We aren't just talking policy; we’re taking action. Our next steps include:
Awareness at the Source: A sensitization campaign and free BP checks for National Assembly members and staff.
Amplifying Patient Voices: Working with the media to project the lived experiences of those battling the "silent killer."
Accountability: Direct engagement with the Budget Office to ensure that 2026 health allocations are fully released.
A big thank you to the Patient AWG representatives and our partners at GHAI for their tireless work. As Hon. Magaji noted, "PHCs are the hospitals of today and the hospitals of the future."
Let’s keep the pressure on for a heart-healthy Nigeria! 🇳🇬❤️

16/04/2026

There is hardly any family that is not affected by NCDs, particularly hypertension. This underscores the urgency of addressing the issue - Hon. Mohammed Usman (Vice President, LISDEL)

Health experts in Nigeria call for urgent action on rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs), citing poor funding and weak institutional capacity.

14/04/2026

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) National Multisectoral Action Plan (MSAP) is to bring everybody that has one role or the other together to share ideas in order to reduce the burden of NCDs in Nigeria - Dr. Allayo Sopekan, Director/National Coordinator, NCDs, FMoHSW

09/04/2026

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.

09/04/2026

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.

02/04/2026

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!