DATA NARRATIVES & DATA VISUALIZATION

We use data narratives and stories to highlight our 6 focus areas in urban communities starting with the Opoji Project.

Health Dynamics

Opoji Kingdom

DISEASE PATTERNS

These data were collected by the PRECIOUS GEMS team
Precious Gems Charity has conducted a series of community health care outreach activities since 2019 and found that of the 604 adults seen, more than 500 of them had high blood pressure and had no knowledge of it. There is a very high death rate amongst women and children in the community, due to preventable and easy to treat illnesses.

PHOTO ESSAYS

The Photo Essays were done by medical students at the Ambrose Ali University in conjunction with the Precious Gems team. The students are Urban Health 360 Research Fellows.

DISEASE PATTERNS BY VILLAGE

Percentage of Cases in Ebudin Community

A circular chart illustrating various health symptoms and their corresponding percentages, with a color-coded legend indicating different categories.

Percentage of Cases in Ewu Community

A pie chart displaying various health conditions and their percentages, accompanied by a color-coded legend indicating conditions like influenza and eye problems.

Percentage of Cases in Ebudin Community

A pie chart showing various health conditions with percentage distributions, accompanied by a legend indicating condition categories and colors.

Percentage of Cases in Ewu Community

A pie chart displaying various health issues and their percentages, accompanied by a legend identifying each category by color.

Percentage of Cases in Ebhoakuala Community

A circular chart displaying various categories and percentages, showcasing data distribution among different segments.

Percentage of Cases in Eguare Community

A circular chart illustrating the distribution of various health issues such as pains, high blood pressure, fever, and eye problems with corresponding percentages.

Percentage of Cases in Idoa Community

A pie chart illustrates various categories with percentage labels, showcasing data distribution across different platforms or technologies.

Percentage of Cases in Ewu-Ekpoma Community

A circular chart illustrating data distribution across various categories with percentages labeled for each segment.

Percentage of Cases on Dova-Ekpoma Community

A circular chart displaying various categories with percentage values, including labels for specific sections and a legend for color coding.

NIGERIA - Diseases & Main Causes of Death

A circular chart displays percentage distribution of various health-related categories, including diseases and conditions, alongside a key for identification.A bar graph comparing different metrics with green and yellow bars representing varying values.
The 2018 NDHS results show that the infant mortality rate was 67 deaths per 1,000 live births for the 5 years preceding the survey. The child mortality rate was 69 deaths per 1,000 live births, while the under-5 mortality rate was 132 deaths per 1,000 live births. This implies that more than 1 in 8 children in Nigeria die before their 5th birthday. With respect to other early childhood mortality rates, the neonatal mortality rate was 39 deaths per 1,000 live births and the postneonatal mortality rate was 28 deaths per 1,000.

Youth health & well-being

Many children come from families that live on less than the minimum wage. Reduced financial power affects their health and wellbeing.

Four children sitting outside, engaged in an activity together, with a rustic wall and window in the background.
(Culture, Religion and Education play a role in the well-being of children and the degree to which they can access proper healthcare)

How this compares to the national level:

Five-year early childhood mortality rates in Nigeria, according to background characteristics
A bar chart displaying monthly metrics with green and yellow bars, indicating comparisons across different categories.
The 2018 NDHS results imply that more than 1 in 8 children under five in Nigeria die before their 5th birthday.
A view of a large pile of trash amidst green vegetation and buildings in the background under a cloudy sky.

(A school situated close to an open refuse dump site with kids playing in the background)

How this compares to the sub-national level:

Five-year early childhood mortality rates in Nigeria, according to background characteristics

Only 7% of schools and 5% of health facilities in Nigeria have combined basic water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.

Women engaged in prayer, dressed in traditional attire, with a focus on a woman in a colorful head wrap, expressing devotion.

This woman still goes to church to participate with the church’s local choir. This maintains physical activity, prevents a sedentary lifestyle, and gives social support.

Healthy Aging

Key factors influencing the achievement of healthy aging in Irrua-Ekpoma:

  • Low socio-economic status
  • Poor access to quality health care
  • No retirement planning

Women are particularly vulnerable.

POPULATION DYNAMICS

MIGRATION
There are an estimated 272 million international migrants – 3.5% of the world’s population – many from Nigeria. While most people leave their home countries for work, millions have been driven away due to conflict, violence, and climate change. According to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM), Nigeria continues to experience high internal and external migration due to the size of its population, economic climate, as well as its porous borders.

INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS
The absolute number of people living in slums or informal settlements grew to over 1 billion, with 80 percent attributed to three regions: Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (370 million), sub-Saharan Africa (238 million), and Central and Southern Asia (227 million). An estimated 3 billion people will require adequate and affordable housing by 2030.

NIGERIA - Population distribution

Percentage of Urban Population in Nigeria
Pie chart illustrating the distribution of urban and rural populations, indicating 50% rural population and 50% urban population, with corresponding figures.
Source: UN DESA, 2018
Bar chart illustrating urban population growth in Nigeria by city size from 1980 to 2030, highlighting changes across different population brackets.

Population Characteristics

A bar graph comparing values labeled 'Revenue' and 'Net' with percentages, highlighting two different years with distinct colored bars.

OPOJI - POPULATION DYNAMICS

A simple map highlighting a small area named Opoy with minimal detail and surrounding features.
  • Opoji Town, Esan Central local government area, Edo Central Senatorial District.
  • A network of 13 villages with a population of approximately 40,000.
  • Opoji, Ekpoma, and Irrua are the urban centers linked to the 13 villages.

ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY

Environment Equity means protection from environmental hazards as well as access to environmental benefits, regardless of income, ethnicity, and other characteristics.

DRINKING WATER & SANITATION FACILITIES
Nigeria’s 26.5 per cent of the population has access to improved drinking water sources and sanitation facilities. However, in the Edo state, 73.8% have access to improved drinking water services; and 69.8% have access to an improved sanitation facility. This suggests Edo state has better access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities than the national average.

BASIC WATER SUPPLY & HANDWASHING FACILITIES
About 60 million people (32%) lack access to basic water supply services in Nigeria, and 150 million people (79%) lack basic handwashing facilities with soap and water. About 70,000 children under 5 die every year from diseases caused by Nigeria’s poor levels of access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene services. Only 7% of schools and 5% of health facilities in Nigeria have combined basic water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.

AIR POLLUTION
91% of the world’s population live in places where air quality exceeds WHO guideline limits. The WHO guidelines state that annual average concentrations of PM2.5 should not exceed 10 µg/m3, while 24-hour average exposures should not exceed 25 µg/m3 more than 3 times a year. Ambient (outdoor) air pollution is a major environmental health problem affecting everyone in low-, middle-, and high-income countries. Ambient air pollution in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide per year in 2016; this mortality is due to exposure to small particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5), which cause cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and cancers.

  • WHO is custodial agency for 3 air pollution-related Sustainable Development Goals indicators:
  • 3.9.1 Mortality from air pollution
  • 7.1.2 Access to clean fuels and technologies
  • 11.6.2 Air quality in cities

Safe drinking water system

Access to potable water has been identified as an opportunity for achieving good health in Irrua-Ekpoma.
A man operates a water pump in a rural area, surrounded by greenery and dirt paths, under a clear sky.

How this compares to the national average:

Household Drinking Water in Nigeria (by place)*
A bar graph comparing access to improved and unimproved water sources in urban versus rural areas.
Nigeria’s 26.5 per cent of the population has access to improved drinking water sources. However, in the Edo state, 73.8% have access to improved drinking water services. This suggests Edo state has better access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities than the national average.

Drinking water in Edo State*

A bar graph illustrating various metrics with green, yellow, and orange bars representing different values.
About 60 million people (32%) lack access to basic water supply services in Nigeria, and 150 million people (79%) lack basic handwashing facilities with soap and water.

Adequate sanitation

Poor drainage systems and stagnant water around the community contribute to vector borne diseases and poor health.

How this compares to the national average:

A bar graph comparing different evaluation categories, with green and blue bars representing various metrics and measurements.
Nigeria’s 26.5 per cent of the population has access to improved drinking water sources. However, in the Edo state, 73.8% have access to improved drinking water services. This suggests Edo state has better access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities than the national average.

How this compares to the sub-national average:

Sanitation Facility Type & Sanitation Service in Edo State

Bar graph illustrating survey results on the importance of various factors in relation to distribution services for a specific state.
A polluted area covered with various types of garbage, including plastic bags, bottles, and other debris scattered across the ground.

Safe waste disposal

Refuse dumping sites attract disease carrying rodents, mosquitoes, and other vectors. This has led to a high incidence of Lassa Fever and Malaria in Ekpoma-Irrua.

Food Environment

Food security, as defined by the United Nations' Committee on World Food Security, means that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life.

According to the International Food Policy Institute, a changing climate, growing global population, rising food prices, and environmental stressors deeply impact food security.

Municipal and community strategies such as better options for handling water allocation, land use, food trade, postharvest food processing, and food prices and safety must be implemented – in both the formal and informal food sectors.

Informal food sector

A bustling market scene with vendors, trash scattered throughout, and makeshift stalls under corrugated roofs, showcasing a mix of commerce and waste.
  • Poor food hygiene practices.
  • Limited health information is made available to community members by the Public Health Authority.
  • Poor sanitation.
A vibrant market scene bustling with people, colorful umbrellas, and various stalls, depicting a lively atmosphere of trade and community interaction.
The market infrastructure is poor and leads to congestion and overpopulation.

HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE - NIGERIA & EDO STATE

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
In Nigeria, as opposed to the 20% benchmark recommended by WHO, more than 70% of healthcare spending is out of pocket. For example, in Edo state, one of the 36 states of Nigeria, out-of-pocket healthcare payments is 90%.

HOUSING
Nigeria is faced with over 17 million housing deficits, and Edo State contributes over 300,000 to it.

Maternal and Child Health

Problems in accessing health care in Urban Areas

A pie chart illustrating different reasons for not proceeding, with segments labeled and various percentages represented in distinct colors.

Problems in accessing health care in Rural Areas

A pie chart illustrating various issues related to treatment, showing percentages allocated to each category in distinct colors.
  • More women in rural areas (60%) than urban areas (42%) have problems in accessing health care.
  • Women in urban areas are more likely than those in rural areas to receive a postnatal check during the first 2 days after delivery (61% and 30%, respectively).

Problems in accessing health care in Nigeria

A pie chart illustrating percentages related to various aspects of image usage, including existing and non-existing image cover scenarios.

Problems in accessing health care in Edo State

A pie chart displaying four segments representing different obstacles to treatment, each labeled with their respective percentages.
*Percentage of women age 15-49 who reported that they have serious problems in accessing health care for themselves when they are sick, by type of problem, according to background characteristics, Nigeria DHS 2018

Problems in accessing health care in Nigeria & Edo State

A bar graph comparing the percentage of individuals concerned about various issues, highlighting significant anxiety about treatment costs.
*Percentage of women age 15-49 who reported that they have serious problems in accessing health care for themselves when they are sick, by type of problem, according to background characteristics, Nigeria DHS 2018

Means of transportation to health facility in Nigeria & Edo State

A bar graph displaying various categories with orange and gray bars, indicating different values for each category.

*Percentage of live births in the 5 years preceding the survey that were delivered in a health facility by means of transportation to the health facility where the delivery took place, according to background characteristics, Nigeria DHS 2018

Means of transportation to health facility in Urban Areas of Nigeria

A circular chart illustrating various modes of transportation with percentage distributions, highlighting private automobile use and public transport.

*Percentage of live births in the 5 years preceding the survey that were delivered in a health facility by means of transportation to the health facility where the delivery took place, according to background characteristics, Nigeria DHS 2018

Five-year early childhood mortality rates in Nigeria, according to background characteristics
A bar graph comparing urban and rural mortality rates across various categories including financial, postnatal, infant, child, and under-five mortality.
The 2018 NDHS results show that the infant mortality rate was 67 deaths per 1,000 live births for the 5 years preceding the survey. The child mortality rate was 69 deaths per 1,000 live births, while the under-5 mortality rate was 132 deaths per 1,000 live births. This implies that more than 1 in 8 children in Nigeria die before their 5th birthday. With respect to other early childhood mortality rates, the neonatal mortality rate was 39 deaths per 1,000 live births and the postneonatal mortality rate was 28 deaths per 1,000.

Net School Attendance Ratio at the Primary Level in Nigeria

A bar graph comparing urban (71.5%) and rural (55.1%) percentages, illustrating a significant difference in data representation.

Net School Attendance Ratio at the Secondary Level in Nigeria

A bar chart comparing percentages of Urban (64.7%) and Rural (37.4%) populations.
There is a substantial difference in the primary school net attendance ratio between urban and rural areas (72% and 53%, respectively). The difference increases at the secondary school level (65% in urban areas and 37% in rural areas).

HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE - Opoji

Access to housing

Multiple communities, particularly the elderly, do not have access to quality housing.

How this compares to the national level:

Percentage of Urban Population living in Slums in Nigeria

A pie chart illustrating the proportion of people living in slums versus the rest of the population, highlighting 50.20% living in slums.
There is a substantial difference in the primary school net attendance ratio between urban and rural areas (72% and 53%, respectively). The difference increases at the secondary school level (65% in urban areas and 37% in rural areas).

Health services

Poorly-equipped primary healthcare centres and the absence of adolescent-centred health clinics, add to the burden of disease.

How this compares to the national level:

Problems in accessing health care in Nigeria & Edo State

A bar graph comparing barriers to healthcare access in Nigeria and Edo State, highlighting issues like financial constraints and distance to facilities.

In Nigeria, as opposed to the 20% benchmark recommended by WHO, more than 70% of healthcare spending is out of pocket. For example, in Edo state, one of the 36 states of Nigeria, out-of-pocket healthcare payments is 90%.

Spatial coherence (1)

To get to the health centre, villagers must travel by any means necessary on bad roads.

How this compares to the national level:

Means of transportation to health facility in Nigeria & Edo State

A comparative bar chart illustrating various metrics for Nigeria and one state, displaying percentages for each category.

Spatial coherence (2)

To get to the health centre, villagers must travel by any means necessary on bad roads.

How this compares to the national level:

Problems in accessing health care in Urban Areas

A pie chart illustrating four segments, each labeled with percentages in various colors: gray, orange, blue, and yellow.

Problems in accessing health care in Rural Areas

A pie chart illustrating barriers to treatment, displaying percentages for factors like permission, finances, distance, and reluctance to go alone.

GOVERNANCE FOR HEALTH

POLICY COHERENCE
The OECD defines policy coherence for sustainable development as an “approach and policy tool that supports the integration of the economic, social, environmental and governance dimensions of sustainable development across all stages of policy making, facilitating integrated approaches to proposed solutions for the SDGs.” SDG target 17.14 is dedicated to policy coherence.

A joyful group of adults and children holding books outside, showcasing a community event focused on literacy and education.
(Early education about health and wellbeing as part of a medical outreach)

Active & committed local leaders

  • Medical students: Health awareness campaigns conducted by medical students teach children about their health and wellbeing.
  • NGOs: The Touching Lives at Christmas NGO gives out clothes to children during medical outreach activities.
  • Religious community: Provides a social support network for the elderly and other members.

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