Lagos State has inaugurated a Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Technical Working Group (TWG) to coordinate and drive integrated strategies aimed at tackling the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in the State. The event, held on Tuesday, November 5, 2025, at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, brought together key stakeholders, including policymakers, health professionals, development partners, and civil society organizations.

The establishment of the NCDs TWG aims to align ongoing efforts and ensure that NCDs prevention, treatment, and control receive sustained, evidence-based attention within Lagos State’s health system. The platform will facilitate collaboration among government agencies, development partners, healthcare providers, and technical experts to enhance integration and sustainability in NCD programming.

According to the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the TWG will drive policy and strategy development, promote health system strengthening, and support the integration of NCD services into primary healthcare. It will also advocate for health promotion and preventive interventions targeting key risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and harmful alcohol consumption.

Additionally, the group will oversee monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress, identify gaps, and recommend necessary adjustments. It will also mobilize resources and advocate for sustainable financing to support long-term NCDs control programs.

Membership of the TWG comprises representatives from the Lagos State Ministry of Health, its agencies such as LASHMA and the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, health districts, development partners, CSOs, academia, and patient advocacy groups.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, described the event as “a significant step forward in the State’s collective efforts to address the silent yet formidable threat of NCDs.” He said the diseases, which include hypertension, diabetes, cancer, sickle cell disease, mental health disorders, and chronic respiratory diseases, now account for nearly 29% of all deaths in Nigeria.

Ogboye noted that while Lagos has recorded major progress in combating infectious diseases and improving maternal and child health, the rise in lifestyle-related diseases has altered the State’s health landscape. “As our population grows, urbanizes, and adopts new lifestyles, the epidemiological transition is clear. We are now battling diseases that do not make dramatic entrances but claim lives silently,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary lamented that in recent years, focus on infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and diphtheria outbreaks has overshadowed the growing menace of NCDs. He emphasized that while such outbreaks demand urgent attention, “NCDs continue to claim lives steadily but preventably.”

According to him, the creation of the NCD Technical Working Group demonstrates the State Government’s commitment to “a coordinated, data-driven, and multi-sectoral response” that ensures prevention, early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation are prioritized. “Our goal is to move from reactive care to proactive prevention, from fragmented efforts to coordinated action, and from isolated data to integrated health intelligence,” Ogboye added.

He reaffirmed the Sanwo-Olu administration’s dedication under the T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda, which prioritizes health system strengthening through initiatives like the Lagos State Health Scheme, LASAMBUS, the State Hypertension and Diabetes Programs, and Mental Health interventions. Ogboye called on all members of the TWG to bring innovation, collaboration, and commitment to the task ahead.

Director of Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Victoria Egunjobi, said the inauguration signifies a shift from fragmented to unified efforts in tackling NCDs. She explained that many organizations have been working independently, and the TWG was established to consolidate these efforts for sustainability and wider reach.

Egunjobi stated that the TWG will serve as a think tank to support the Ministry in developing comprehensive, evidence-based NCD programs. “We are gathered to ask: how can we work better together, leverage research, and ensure access to care for every person living with a chronic disease?” she said.

She added that the TWG will engage government MDAs, research institutions, and communities to build a framework for action. “At the end of today, we should all be proud of what we’ve achieved; a coordinated platform that will shape the future of NCD prevention and control in Lagos,” she noted.

In an interview, Egunjobi emphasized that nearly half of the people screened at recent outreach programs presented high blood pressure. “This is not acceptable for Lagos or Nigeria. The TWG will help us integrate policy, practice, and community awareness to reduce this burden,” she said.

In her goodwill message, Health Analyst at Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Vivian Nwakolobi, commended the Lagos State Ministry of Health for demonstrating leadership in prioritizing NCDs. She described the inauguration as a milestone that reflects strong governance and commitment to Universal Health Coverage.

She noted that CHAI would continue to partner with Lagos through its ongoing programs, including the REACH, Type 1 Diabetes, Sickle Cell, and Cervical Cancer Control Programs. “Together, we can ensure that every Lagosian at risk of NCDs is diagnosed early, managed effectively, and supported to live a healthy life,” Nwakolobi stated.

Also speaking, Dr. Somefun Esther, Gender and Reproductive Health Analyst at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), applauded the initiative, describing it as “a testament to what can be achieved through partnership.” She warned that NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes have become a silent epidemic but remain largely preventable through coordinated interventions.

Dr. Esegine Jonathan Oji, Chairman, Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), Lagos Chapter, expressed satisfaction that attention is being directed toward NCDs. He emphasized the role of continuous awareness and health education, citing patients’ misconceptions about chronic illnesses. “Someone once told me, ‘I thought once my drugs were finished, the illness was gone.’ This highlights the urgent need for ongoing education,” he said.

Oji pledged his association’s collaboration with the State Government, adding that private practitioners will continue to conduct free blood pressure and blood sugar checks. “Lagos has set the pace once again. Together, we can reduce the mortality and burden of NCDs,” he declared.

In his remarks, Dr. Saheed Babajide Kehinde, Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State, described the inauguration as long overdue. He urged the TWG to be strategic in its focus; prioritizing prevention, risk reduction, and affordability of care.

According to him, “We must not spread our efforts too thinly. Let’s focus on key NCDs like hypertension and diabetes and address them thoroughly. Cost reduction, early detection, and strong referral systems are key to progress.”

NCD Program Coordinator, Dr. Abosede Wellington, said the TWG will drive policy formulation and inter-sectoral collaboration that ensures long-term impact. She appreciated the Ministry’s leadership and CHAI’s support in making the inauguration possible.

Also delivering goodwill messages, Dr. Akiolu Modinat, Disease Control Program Manager at the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, described the initiative as a “vital step in driving evidence-based strategies for early detection and prevention,” while Dr. Zainab Salisu, Assistant Director, Medical Services/NCD Coordinator at the Lagos State Health Service Commission, said it provides “a new opportunity to strengthen NCD management across general hospitals.”

With this inauguration, Lagos State takes another decisive stride in its quest to achieve Universal Health Coverage by addressing one of the fastest-growing health challenges of the 21st century — Non-Communicable Diseases.

For Advert, Event Coverage/Press Conference Invite, Story/Article Publication & Other Media Services
Contact Us On WhatsApp
Send Email To: citizennewsng@gmail.com
Visit Citizen NewsNG To Read More Latest and Interesting News Across Nigeria and the World