The Mutual Union of the Tiv in America (MUTA) is a non-profit organization based in Grand Rapids Michigan.  The organization promotes education and healthcare activities in Africa as well as provides relief support in cases of disaster to relieve human suffering.  MUTA is greatly concerned about the magnitude of chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS in Benue State of Nigeria.  In the past five years, thousands of people have died from Benue State of causes associated with heart disease, cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.  Benue state has remained in the top two states of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Nigeria in the past five years.  In view of the magnitude of these health issues, MUTA is proposing to conduct a State-wide Health Fair in Benue State of Nigeria to provide health education and preventive measures to reduce disease incidence.      

 

Project Goal:  The major goal of the MUTA Health Fair is to provide health education and preventive measures to reduce illness and deaths associated with chronic diseases and reduce long-term complications.

 

The Need:  Chronic disease like heart disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS and diabetes are by far the leading cause of mortality in the world today representing 60 % of all deaths.  In developing countries like Nigeria, chronic diseases have a dramatic adverse effect on economic development and impacts negatively on families and communities.

The global epidemic of chronic disease is at the doorstep in developing nations with 80% of deaths.  The immense burden of disease reduces significantly the quality of life of these nations with the poor and those without access to healthcare being hit hardest.

There is a need to increase health literacy and ensure people acquire knowledge and necessary skills in order to manage their conditions.  There is also a need to increase awareness about diseases and their complications especially in the developing world where trained health workers are in short supply.  MUTA believes that health education and preventive care can go a long way to reduce long-term complications since 80% of premature heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes is preventable and that 40 % of cancer is also preventable if the populace is educated to effect behavioral changes that enhance disease prevention.

 

Project Objectives:  In order to meet the goal of providing health education and disease prevention in Benue State of Nigeria, the following objectives have been identified:

1.  To provide education and enhance the understanding about chronic diseases such as Diabetes, Hypertension, stroke, HIV/AIDS and Cancer.
2.  To provide education in the management of chronic diseases and promote self-management among people with these diseases.
3.  To provide education on long-term complications and risk factors and provide strategies for preventing these diseases and their complications in people at risk.
4.  To provide screening for chronic diseases to the public

 

Project Activities:  In order to meet the outlined objectives, the following activities have been planned.   

 

Objective 1:  To provide education and enhance the understanding about chronic diseases such as Diabetes, Hypertension, stroke, HIV/AIDS and Cancer.  This objective will be met by conducting health education workshops and seminars in three major cities in Benue State on causes, symptoms and effects of Diabetes, Hypertension, stroke, HIV/AIDS and Cancer.  The workshop/seminars will be conducted in public venues to be accessible to as many people as possible and have been projected to take place in three major cities of Benue State including Makurdi, Gboko, and Oturkpo in May/June of 2008.  

 

Objective 2:  To provide education in the management of chronic diseases and promote self-management among people with these diseases.  In order to meet this objective, the planned health education workshop/seminar will be oriented to people or families of people who are affected by Diabetes, Hypertension, stroke, HIV/AIDS and Cancer.  The workshop/seminars will focus on best management procedures for the mentioned diseases in locations as indicated in objective 1 as well as patient counseling.   

 

Objective 3:  To provide education on long-term complications and risk factors and provide strategies for preventing these diseases and their complications in people at risk.  The workshop/seminar on long-term complications and risk factors will be geared towards the elderly and will include information of proper diet and exercises that will reduce long-term complications and risk factors of chronic diseases.

 

Objective 4:  To provide screening for chronic diseases to the public.  This objective will be carried out in conjunction with the health education workshops.  Participants in the workshops will be provided free screening for Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar and HIV/AIDS testing.  Those that test positive for any screening will be provided information on how to access medication and medical care.  Medical doctors, pharmacists and nurses will be available to provide the necessary screening tests and also dispense any medication available free of charge.   

In addition to the public workshops/seminars on health education and disease prevention, efforts will be made to have the health fair program aired on public television and radio stations to provide further awareness on preventing and managing chronic diseases.

 

Expected Outcomes:  It is expected that the activities conducted during the 2008 MUTA Health Fair in Benue State of Nigeria will:

 

•  Increase awareness and understanding of chronic diseases (heart disease/hypertension, stroke, cancer, and HIV/AIDS)
•  Provide for a greater understanding of the role of self-management and preventive measures to improving good health outcomes.
•  Increase awareness of risk factors to chronic disease
•  Increase understanding of long term complications of chronic disease
•  Provide linkages to accessing medical care.