The Federal Government has warned that poor sleep poses serious risks to public health and road safety, calling for increased investment in sleep medicine, specialist training, diagnostic facilities and research.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Kachollom Daju, gave the warning in a goodwill message delivered at the inaugural annual meeting and scientific conference of the African Sleep Medicine Network in Abuja.
She said sleep health should be treated as a public health priority because of its links to non-communicable diseases, mental health, maternal and child health, workplace productivity and road safety.
Daju identified obstructive sleep apnoea, insomnia, narcolepsy and circadian rhythm disorders as conditions requiring greater attention. She noted that untreated sleep disorders could contribute to road accidents, learning difficulties among children and reduced productivity.
She also identified noise, overcrowding, excessive heat, shift work and economic stress as factors that can interfere with healthy sleep.
The Permanent Secretary called for stronger sleep laboratories, improved diagnostic facilities, specialist training and increased public awareness to promote early detection and treatment of sleep disorders.
Meanwhile, the FCT Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, pledged to integrate sleep health awareness into the territory’s non-communicable disease programme.
Fasawe said healthcare professionals would be encouraged to screen patients for sleep disorders, while partnerships would be explored to establish sleep laboratories and expand training opportunities in hospitals across the FCT.
She added that poor sleep was associated with conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, stroke, obesity, anxiety and depression.
The conference highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among healthcare professionals, researchers and policymakers to improve sleep health and reduce its impact on public safety and quality of life.
