WACP urges physicians to champion healthy living, universal health

By Aliyu Inuwa Mansir On Jul 23, 2025

WACP, physicians, healthy living, universal health,Kano, — WACP urges physicians to champion healthy living, universal health

The President of the West African College of Physicians (WACP), Dr. Mamadou Mourtalla Aka, has called on medical professionals across the region to take a more proactive role in promoting healthy lifestyle choices and advocating stronger health systems—especially in the fight against non-communicable and preventable diseases.

Dr. Aka made the call while addressing participants at the 49th Annual General and Scientific Meeting (AGSM) of the Nigerian Chapter of the WACP, held on Wednesday in Kano.

Commending the Nigerian Chapter for its “invaluable and consistent contributions” to the growth and visibility of the College, Dr. Aka praised the chapter’s leadership, dynamism, and unwavering commitment to improving health outcomes across the sub-region.

“The Nigerian Chapter continues to strengthen the mission and legacy of the West African College of Physicians,” he said. “Your leadership remains vital to our collective impact.”

This year’s theme, “Healthy Living: Transforming Lives through Healthy Lifestyle Choices,” was described by Dr. Aka as timely and relevant, considering the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer, alongside persistent infectious diseases in the region.

“As physicians and health leaders, we must go beyond the hospital walls to become advocates for prevention,” Dr. Aka stated. “Healthy eating, regular physical activity, mental well-being, and reduction of substance use are all critical to transforming individual and population health.”

He also emphasized the importance of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in Nigeria’s drive toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC), urging physicians to actively engage with the initiative to ensure it delivers accessible and equitable care to underserved communities.

“These diseases should not remain death sentences when cost-effective interventions are within reach,” he added, highlighting the need for improved awareness, early detection, and supportive health infrastructure.

SolaceBase reports that the Nigeria Chapter Chairman and WACP Vice President, Dr. Benjamin S.C. Uzochukwu, also urged physicians to lead efforts in promoting healthy living and strengthening primary healthcare systems.

He reiterated that non-communicable diseases are on the rise but can be prevented through lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, healthy diets, and routine health screenings.

Dr. Uzochukwu emphasized the effective use of the BHCPF as a critical tool for improving early diagnosis and delivering community-level services. He also addressed the growing burden of preventable and curable cancers, calling for improved awareness, early detection, and stronger health infrastructure.

He praised the Kano State Government for its hospitality and the Local Organizing Committee for their excellent planning of the event.

Dr. Uzochukwu stressed that although lifestyle-related illnesses are preventable or manageable, it is more challenging in communities affected by poverty, insecurity, poor infrastructure, and limited access to healthcare.

“Healthy living requires a paradigm shift—one that emphasizes prevention over treatment, accountability over dependency, and systems that support well-being,” he said. “Our role as health professionals is to lead this transformation through demonstration, advocacy, and evidence-based practices.”

He added that the conference is not merely an academic event but a platform to influence health policy, promote collaboration, and drive real change in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

In his remarks, Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Labaran Abubakar Yusuf, thanked the College for choosing Kano State as the host of the prestigious conference.

“Nigeria is spending over four hundred billion naira on cancer treatment, while prevention would cost only about two billion US dollars,” he said. “Prevention is better than cure, and early detection of these diseases—like hypertension, diabetes, and cancer—can significantly increase a patient’s chance of survival. Let us use this very important event to raise public awareness because public enlightenment is key.”

He urged participants to share the knowledge gained from the conference with the wider public.

“Let’s take the knowledge we’ve acquired here to the public—don’t leave it behind. The general public also needs to benefit from everything we’ve learned,” he added.