As the world marks the 2026 World Heart Day, health experts in Nigeria are calling for stronger action against cardiovascular diseases, with more than 200,000 Nigerians estimated to die from heart-related conditions every year.

The Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) issued the warning in Lagos during an event to mark this year’s 2026 World Heart Day, themed “Healthy Hearts: From the Classroom to the Families”.

The foundation said cardiovascular diseases remain a major cause of death globally, accounting for 19.8 million of the 63 million deaths recorded each year. In Nigeria, it said more than 235,000 people die annually from the diseases.

The NHF said at least 80 percent of premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases could be prevented by addressing major risk factors including tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, harmful alcohol consumption and air pollution.

The Executive Director of the foundation, Dr Kingsley Akinroye, said this year’s focus on schools was aimed at introducing heart-health education early and encouraging children to develop healthier habits.

He urged teachers to promote healthy diets and physical activity among pupils, noting that heart disease can begin at an early age, with risk factors accumulating over the years. Akinroye also warned that symptoms of cardiovascular diseases can go unnoticed, dismissed or ignored, delaying diagnosis and treatment.

He identified unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, air pollution, alcohol and tobacco use as growing concerns for cardiovascular health in Nigeria and called for greater attention to prevention and early action.

The World Heart Federation is marking the 2026 campaign with “Don’t Miss a Beat”, which focuses on recognising symptoms of heart disease that may go unnoticed until they become serious.

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The NHF has also brought back its “Keep the Beat” challenge, encouraging Nigerians to become more physically active throughout September as part of efforts to promote heart health.

In Abuja, the Nigerian Cardiac Society (NCS) also used activities marking World Heart Day to call for stronger government action on cardiovascular disease prevention, screening and treatment.

The President of the society, Prof. Rasaaq Adebayo, said Nigeria’s growing population was increasing demand for cardiovascular healthcare services and putting further pressure on existing facilities.

He acknowledged improvements in healthcare facilities and services but said more facilities were still needed, alongside the replacement of equipment already in use.

Adebayo also said awareness about physical exercise had improved compared with previous decades, but warned that increasing automation was contributing to more sedentary lifestyles.

Professor of Medicine and Consultant Cardiologist, Prof. Amam Mbakwe, called for cardiovascular screening to be integrated into Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.

Mbakwe, who is also Vice-President of the World Heart Federation, said Nigeria could not rely solely on specialists and tertiary hospitals to address the growing cardiovascular disease burden.

“The screening must start at the primary healthcare level. We are saying that we don’t need to develop another system. Let’s integrate it into the already existing primary healthcare system,” she said.

The Secretary-General of the NCS, Prof. Ejiroghene Umuerri, meanwhile, called for increased local production of cardiovascular medicines to reduce treatment costs.

Umuerri said many cardiovascular medicines are already on Nigeria’s Essential Medicines List and relatively affordable, but noted that dependence on imported medicines continues to increase the cost of treatment.

Cynthia Nwanonyiri