A Consultant Lifestyle Medicine Physician and Founder, Lifestyle Champions International (LCI), Dr. Moyosore Makinde, has identified sleep deprivation as the root cause of many diseases.

Makinde, also the President, Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLONg), made the assertion at a webinar organised by LCI to mark the ‘World Sleep Day’ in Lagos.

The day is celebrated annually on March 13, to raise awareness of sleep’s critical role in health.

Speaking on the topic: “Sleep Well, Live Better: Unlocking the Power of Healthy Sleep”, Makinde described sleep as “a cyclical period of rest, which helps to balance one’s circadian rhythm”.

According to her, sleeping well in order to live better is not a myth and sleep is one of the most powerful yet often neglected pillars of health.

She noted that functioning on a limited amount of sleep should not be equated to strength, courage or productivity, saying such was detrimental to one’s health.

Citing the World Sleep Society (WSS) and World Health Organisation (WHO), Makinde said that no fewer than 42 million adults were predicted to have chronic insomnia worldwide.

She said $417 billion was lost in annual GDP globally due to reduced productivity associated with chronic insomnia.

She added that over 16 per cent of individuals over Africa and Asia had reported extreme and severe sleep problems which were strongly linked to poorer general well-being and quality of life, and psychiatric factors.

The physician emphasised that poor sleep/sleep deprivation was a major contributing factor to diseases that bedeviled human existence.

She listed the long-term risk factors of poor sleep/sleep deprivation to include hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cancer and cardiovascular disease, while other hidden costs were: reduced productivity, poor concentration, increased accident risks and weakened immunity.

She explained that the common causes of poor sleep were stress and anxiety, irregular sleep schedules, excessive screen exposure, late meals or caffeine, noise and poor sleep environment and medical conditions.

According to her, many sleep problems are lifestyle-related and reversible.

“Studies show correlates between sleep deprivation and several cancers.

“Poor sleep is associated with increased levels of stress, anxiety and negative emotions such as anger.

“Poorer sleep efficiency and shorter sleep duration in the weeks preceding exposure to a rhinovirus are associated with lower resistance to the common cold.

“Adequate sleep helps to promote brain health by cleansing the brain of viruses and bacteria, which apparently promote good health,” she said.

On the tips to good/refreshing sleep, Makinde advised that people should maintain consistent sleep schedules, create a wind-down routine and make the room/bed conducive.

She underscored the need to embrace relaxation techniques, avoid screens 30-60 minutes before bed and also avoid intense discussion or ‘mindless scrolling’ which impaired sleep quality and increase fatigue

“Diet is a major recommended tip to a refreshing sleep; ensure high fibre diet and avoid heavy meals.

“Keep to a healthy plate – eat 3-4 hours before bedtime and avoid large volumes of drinking water before bedtime.

“Similarly, regular exercise improves sleep quality; move more, make exercise fun, wear appropriate clothes including footwear, aim for guidelines and avoid exercise close to bedtime,” Makinde said.

She recommended E-books sales, short educational video clips, consultations among others as effective tools in communicating ideas to get good sleep.

From Daniel Amasingha, Minna.

As part of efforts to improve the treatment and welfare of leprosy patients, the Leprosy Mission Nigeria (TLMN) has donated twenty-five electronic motorised beds to the Niger State Leprosy Hospital.

Presenting the items to the Niger State Government, the Operations Manager of TLMN, Pius Ogbu, said the beds were provided through support from the Leprosy Mission, Switzerland.

According to him, the donation includes 25 electronic motorised beds, 25 bed sheets, 25 pillows and pillow cases, all aimed at enhancing the comfort and recovery of patients receiving treatment at the facility.

“With these electronic motorised beds, patients can easily adjust their sleeping positions to suit their comfort,” he said.

“We believe the beds will help patients enjoy better sleep and aid a faster recovery process.”

Ogbu added that the organisation remains actively engaged in Niger State, providing free treatment, rehabilitation services, vocational training, and working to eradicate the stigma associated with leprosy.

 He noted that the Mission also provides orthopaedic devices and empowerment support for people affected by the disease.

Responding on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Bagana, said the administration of Governor Umaru Bago, under the New Niger Agenda, is committed to prioritising the treatment of tropical diseases.

“We are happy to receive this consignment and we will ensure that we complement the efforts of TLMN by upgrading the Leprosy Hospital and providing the necessary commodities needed for patients’ care,” Bagana said.

He further assured that the state government would ensure that a medical consultant is posted to the Leprosy Hospital to improve the quality of treatment for patients.

Some patients at the hospital, while commending the intervention by TLMN, appealed to Governor Umaru Bago to further prioritise the facility by providing more medical supplies and support.

One of the patients, Mr. David Felix, an indigene of Ebonyi State, expressed appreciation for the donation.

Felix, who lost his leg due to complications from an ulcer, said the hospital has provided him with support he might not have received elsewhere.

“If I am not here, I do not think I would have benefited from this artificial limb. I am also happy about this adjustable bed because I no longer need to disturb the workers to help me adjust my position while in bed,” he said.

From Dan Amasingha, Minna

The Niger State Government has announced plans to recruit up to 5,000 health workers as part of a sweeping reform of its healthcare delivery system, following the commissioning of what it described as the first porta cabin specialist hospital of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.

Governor Umar Bago made the disclosure on Tuesday during the inauguration of the multi-billion-naira twin porta cabin hospital project at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Specialist Hospital in Minna.

The Governor said the state would recruit an additional 2,500 medical personnel in the coming months, bringing the total number of health workers employed under his administration to 5,000.

According to him, the initiative is part of a revolutionary healthcare delivery agenda aimed at positioning Niger State as a hub for medical tourism in sub-Saharan Africa.

Bago further revealed that the state government has entered into a bilateral agreement with leading Arab hospitals in Cairo, Egypt, for a medical doctors’ exchange programme. Under the arrangement, between 20 and 50 Egyptian doctors are expected to be deployed to the IBB Specialist Hospital to provide specialised medical services.

He disclosed that the state has already engaged about 20 visiting consultants who are currently performing advanced neurosurgical procedures, including spinal cord and brain surgeries, as well as knee replacement operations.

The newly inaugurated twin porta cabin hospital, located within the premises of the IBB Specialist Hospital, will serve as a temporary take-off facility for the proposed IBB University Teaching Hospital.

Bago described the facility as the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa and a strategic investment to bridge gaps in tertiary healthcare services.

“We are deliberate in our healthcare policy. We want to make Niger State the healthcare delivery hub of the North and encourage people to seek medical screening and treatment at home,” the Governor said.

“We want to position Niger State as the prime location for healthcare delivery in the North.”

To complement the investment in tertiary healthcare, the Governor stated that the administration has upgraded 20 Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) from Type I to Type II status.

“Currently, we have some of the best Type II PHC models in the country, and we will upgrade an additional 110 centres,” he added.

In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Muhammad Bagana, commended the Governor for what he described as the largest healthcare renovation and investment drive in the state’s 50-year history, noting that the reforms would significantly improve access to quality healthcare for residents.