Mrs. Nonye Soludo, the wife of Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has expressed deep concern over the alarming increase in deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria. The founder of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative issued the warning in Awka on 13 January 2026, calling for urgent and deliberate action on medical and lifestyle discipline.
A Silent Epidemic: The Need for Routine Checks
Mrs. Soludo pinpointed a dangerous trend of neglect, where many individuals fail to undergo routine heart examinations. She stated that this oversight is a major contributor to the rise of severe cardiovascular conditions. Heart failure, cardiac arrest, and stroke were highlighted as the most common and deadly outcomes of this neglect.
"It is important for everyone to understand that deaths from cardiovascular diseases are usually quick and incurable, especially when they are in their acute stages," she cautioned. Her message underscores the critical window for prevention, as treatment options shrink once these diseases reach an advanced state.
Prevention Through Lifestyle Changes
The health advocate emphasized that most cardiovascular tragedies are preventable. She identified key habitual risk factors that Nigerians must address:
- Tobacco use
- Unhealthy diets and obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Harmful use of alcohol
"May I re-emphasise the important role that healthy living plays in finding solutions to cardiovascular deaths," Mrs. Soludo urged. "You must engage in regular exercise and eat healthy and organic foods, which are just as important as checking the condition of the heart more often."
Hereditary Risks and a Philosophy of Well-being
Mrs. Soludo also directed a specific warning to people with a family history of heart disease. She advised them to be exceptionally cautious with their overall health habits and to strictly avoid lifestyles that could worsen any underlying genetic predisposition.
Further explaining her mission, she noted that a primary goal of her NGO is to embed a lasting philosophy of well-being into the public consciousness. This philosophy is designed to empower people to steer clear of health threats, not only from cardiovascular issues but also from poor dietary choices. The initiative seeks to create a cultural shift where proactive health management becomes a norm, thereby reducing the burden of preventable diseases in Anambra and across Nigeria.
