SL¥MP AND D!E SYNDROME :WHY ARE PEOPLE SUDDENLY C0LLAPSING AND DY!NG? 

WE NEED A SERIOUS HEALTH CAMPAIGN DRIVE.

Am pained about the death of Minister Toluwanimi. He just got married 5years ago with two small kids and he spoke about how they suffered while they were young. The Glory is here but the gory of his death end his story.

The news that Toluwanisings reportedly slumped in his bathroom or on staircase and died is another painful reminder of how fragile human life can be. I read a story that, this same thing happened to Toluwanimi on the 11th of July this year, where he slumped and he was revived after several hours. Three month after, same thing happened.

Once again, I find myself asking a troubling question:

1.Why are we witnessing these sudden deaths, and are we asking enough questions about them?

We have heard similar reports involving Nollywood personalities such as Akinremi Jagaban Murphy Afolabi, as well as Big Bolaji, Aduke Gold, and others, Nollywood stars like Ekubo and several celebrities. No major sickness, just sudden fall and death.. Each time, the news breaks, shockwaves ripple through society, social media is flooded with tributes and condolences, and eventually, the public moves on to the next trending issue.

But should we simply move on without reflecting on the lessons these tragedies may hold for the living?

2.Are we paying enough attention to our health, or have we become so preoccupied with the demands of survival that we have forgotten the importance of staying alive?

Let us be clear about one thing: slumping and dying is not a medical diagnosis. It describes a visible event, not the underlying cause of death. A person may collapse suddenly for several reasons, including cardiac arrest, serious heart conditions, dangerous heart rhythms, stroke, tiredness , dehydration and other medical emergencies. In some cases, the individual may have appeared perfectly healthy before the incident.

This is precisely why we must be careful not to jump to conclusions. Without reliable medical findings, we cannot confidently attribute these deaths to stress, overwork, exhaustion, or any other specific factor. Although chronic stress, inadequate sleep, and unhealthy lifestyles can affect our well-being, the actual cause of an individual’s death must be established through appropriate medical investigation.

Nevertheless, these recurring reports should compel us to reflect on our attitude towards personal health and healthy drive campaign in Nigeria.

3.We cannot continue to treat our bodies like machines that require no maintenance, no rest, and no professional attention.

Many people will spend hours servicing their cars, maintaining their generators, updating their phones, and protecting their businesses, yet go for years without checking their blood pressure or knowing their blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

We chase money, pursue contracts, meet deadlines, attend meetings, and struggle to fulfil our responsibilities. Some of us sacrifice sleep, ignore warning signs, and postpone medical appointments because there is always something more urgent to attend to.

But what happens when the body we have neglected can no longer sustain the demands we place upon it?

4.Money is important. Work is important. Ambition is important. But none of these should come at the expense of our health.Let us ask these questions

1. When last did you check your blood pressure?

2. When last did you have your blood sugar and cholesterol levels assessed, where appropriate?

3. Have you been ignoring persistent chest discomfort, unexplained fainting, unusual breathlessness, or recurring heart palpitations because you believe you are too busy to seek medical attention?
4. Can we start having first aid emergency services training for all? through training and awareness campaign. If the person is not breathing normally, begin CPR if you can, follow the emergency dispatcher’s instructions, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) if one is available.
6. Can we declare a day as a National day of compulsory health check.
7. Is there anything causing sudden death that are spiritual?

Ultimately, we need a society that does more than mourn the dead. We need one that learns, asks informed questions, promotes preventive healthcare, and encourages people to seek medical attention without unnecessary delay.

Life is more important than the work we are rushing to finish. Our health deserves attention before a crisis, not merely sympathy after a tragedy.

Death is not negotiable. We all want to make money and not tagged Lazy and irresponsible. But, health is wealth. We only breath health and not wealth. May God give us good health and long life to spend our wealth.