High Child, Maternal Deaths Driving Nigeria’s Low Life Expectancy – Expert

Former President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Francis Faduyile, has attributed Nigeria’s low life expectancy to persistently high rates of child and maternal mortality, alongside weak response to noncommunicable diseases and frequent violent deaths.

Prof. Faduyile told LEADERSHIP that the country’s average life expectancy remains low because many Nigerians die in early childhood or reproductive years.

“When we talk about life expectancy, it refers to the average age people are expected to live in a particular area. The major problem in Nigeria is that many children die during early childhood. Nigeria has very high neonatal and perinatal mortality rates. When you add maternal deaths and other early deaths together, it brings down the national average,” he explained.

He noted that even though some Nigerians live into their 80s or 90s, the large number of deaths at younger ages drags down the national figure.

“Imagine 100 people: if 20 die between ages zero and five, and another 15 die around 15 to 30, the average age of death falls, even if others live long,” he said.

He also identified violent conflicts, frequent road accidents, and inadequate care for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer as other key factors contributing to early deaths.

“Nigeria still records a high number of deaths from road accidents and armed conflicts. On top of that, we haven’t developed strong policies to manage cancer and other NCDs. Many cancer patients die painful deaths because treatment is expensive and facilities are inadequate,” he lamented.

Dr. Faduyile further pointed out that low awareness and myths surrounding NCDs often lead to late presentation and poor treatment outcomes.

He called for urgent and comprehensive reforms to improve life expectancy in the country.

“To improve life expectancy, we must address maternal and child mortality, strengthen healthcare systems for noncommunicable diseases, and change our attitude toward prevention and early treatment,” he said.