Diseases & Conditions

Heart failure is a serious, chronic condition in which the heart muscle becomes too weak or too stiff to pump blood efficiently around the body. It does not mean the heart has stopped — it means the heart is not working as well as it should, causing fluid to build up in the lungs and other tissues. Heart failure can affect the left side, right side, or both sides of the heart. It affects millions of people worldwide and is increasingly common in Nigeria, driven by the high prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension, rheumatic heart disease (from repeated streptococcal infections), and cardiomyopathies. Heart failure is a life-altering but manageable condition — with proper treatment, many people live well for years.

Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), transmitted through blood, body fluids, and from mother to child at birth. Nigeria has a very high endemic burden — an estimated 20 million Nigerians live with chronic hepatitis B, one of the highest rates in the world. Many people are infected at birth or in childhood and remain unaware for decades while the virus silently damages their liver. Chronic hepatitis B is the leading cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer in Nigeria. There is no cure, but an effective vaccine prevents infection, and antiviral treatment can suppress the virus and prevent complications.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes recurring, blister-like sores, most often around the mouth (oral herpes or cold sores, typically HSV-1) or the genitals (genital herpes, typically HSV-2), though either type can infect either site. HSV is extremely common worldwide, and a large proportion of adults carry HSV-1 antibodies from childhood, usually acquired through non-sexual contact. Once acquired, the virus remains dormant in nerve tissue for life and can reactivate periodically, causing recurrent outbreaks that are usually milder than the first episode. There is no cure, but antiviral treatment controls outbreaks effectively, and many people live full, unaffected lives once they understand how to manage the condition and reduce transmission risk to partners.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system — specifically the CD4 T-cells that coordinate the body's defences. Without treatment, HIV gradually destroys these cells until the immune system can no longer defend against infections and cancers. Advanced HIV disease with severe immune damage is called AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Nigeria has the second largest HIV burden in the world, with approximately 1.9 million people living with HIV. There is currently no cure, but antiretroviral therapy (ART) allows people living with HIV to live long, healthy, and productive lives — and prevents transmission to others.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common sexually transmitted virus, with more than 100 identified strains. Most people who are sexually active will acquire at least one HPV infection in their lifetime. Low-risk strains (such as types 6 and 11) cause genital warts, while high-risk strains (particularly types 16 and 18) are responsible for the majority of cervical cancers and contribute to cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and oropharynx. Most infections are cleared naturally by the immune system within one to two years without ever causing symptoms, but persistent infection with a high-risk strain is the single most important risk factor for cervical cancer. Cervical cancer remains one of the leading cancers among Nigerian women, largely because organised screening and HPV vaccination coverage remain low, making awareness, vaccination, and regular screening critically important.

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a chronic condition in which the force of blood against artery walls is consistently too high. It is one of the most common and dangerous non-communicable diseases in Nigeria, affecting an estimated one in three adults. Often called the "silent killer," hypertension typically produces no noticeable symptoms for years while silently damaging blood vessels, the heart, kidneys, and brain. Left uncontrolled, it is a leading cause of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney disease.