…As first osteoporosis centre is unveiled in Ibadan
Health experts have called for sustained investment in bone health, preventive care and insurance-backed services to tackle rising cases of osteoporosis in Nigeria as first Osteoporosis and Bone Health centre is unveiled in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases, or when the structure and strength of bone changes which can lead to a decrease in bone strength and likely increase the risk of fractures.
Due to growing aging health challenges especially bone-related conditions among older people, the health professionals at the inauguration of the centre called for increased awareness, early prevention and stronger collaboration between government and private health providers to address the disease.
Temitope Alonge, professor and the chief executive officer of the Centre, said that bone health remained poorly understood despite being among the most vital organs in the human body.
According to him, “People often think bone is just the skeleton that gives structure, but it is a very important organ and the biggest store of key minerals in the body, especially calcium. Bone formation and breakdown occur continuously through a process known as remodeling, involving bone-forming cells (osteoblasts) and bone-resorbing cells (osteoclasts). A delicate hormonal balance determines how much bone is formed and removed at any given time.”
Alonge, a former Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said that women typically have stronger bones during their reproductive years due to the protective effect of estrogen, but experience accelerated bone loss after menopause when estrogen levels decline.
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While saying osteoporosis was rarely recorded before the age of 40 but increased significantly from middle age, he cited findings from a study conducted at the University College Hospital Ibadan, noting that “we studied about 2,040 patients and found that before age 40, none had osteoporosis. Between 45 and 50, we began to see osteopenia, and by 60, full-blown osteoporosis became more common.”
Describing osteoporosis as a condition in which bone mineral density reduces to the extent that minor falls can result in fragility fractures, often affecting the wrist, hip and spine, Alonge noted that gradual spinal collapse could cause height loss and a hunched posture in older people.
He pointed out that in the past, life expectancy was low, “so osteoporosis was not seen as a major public health issue. Now people are living longer, and the risk of fragility fractures is much higher.”
Referring to global data which indicated that countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom spend billions of dollars annually managing osteoporosis-related complications, he stressed that prevention remained more cost-effective than treatment.
Treatment options, he stated, vary depending on severity and affordability, including oral medications, injections and intravenous therapies, noting that calcium supplementation must be properly combined with vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 to ensure effective absorption and prevent complications such as kidney stones.
While saying that the facility is equipped with the latest machine for the treatment of osteoporosis, positioning it to deliver modern and specialised care, the first UCH professor of orthopedic and trauma surgery, noted that both affluent and low-income patients would have access to treatment, depending on their financial capacity.
Also saying that the centre would promote education, early diagnosis and individualised treatment of bone-related conditions, particularly among the elderly, he however, recommended exercise, good nutrition and healthy lifestyle habits in building adequate bone stock before old age, warning that Nigeria may face a growing osteoporosis burden as life expectancy improves.
He called for bone density screening routine for older Nigerians, noting that in many developed countries, annual DEXA scans are recommended for people above 60 or 65 years.
He therefore, posited that “health is both a business and a social service. Government alone cannot solve Nigeria’s health challenges without integrating the private sector. Am calling for deeper synergy between government and private sector operators, as well as expanded health insurance coverage.
“If we have a good partnership with the Oyo State Government or the federal government, and we have a reasonable patronage from them, then of course we can consider having those insured that we know we can get our money off them and give them a rebate.”
Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, medical doctor and Oyo State commissioner for Health, who said Oyo State government was exploring areas of collaboration with the centre to improve access for elderly residents, described the centre as a significant step toward improving the quality of life for elderly people.
“The Centre is actually for our health, as we grow older, there’s a tendency for us to be missing some of our bones. In terms of softness of bones, what they call the scapulina. At times, when an elderly person falls, they may break their bones. So, this Centre is actually to be like a clinic. Here is facility for the bone,” the commissioner said.
The commissioner, who commended the founder of the Centre, noted that the facility would strengthen the state’s response to age-related bone conditions, provide the right assessment, counselling and support to help older people age gracefully.
The specialist facility, the first of its kind in the state, is aimed at promoting awareness of bone health and providing dedicated treatment for osteoporosis, a condition commonly associated with aging and increased risk of fractures.
