BY SUNNY A. DAVID
The Anambra State Government has extended free hypertension checks to all primary and secondary healthcare centers across the State to raise awareness about hypertension, which is one of the deadliest non-communicable diseases in society.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, disclosed this during a press briefing held in Awka, to commence this years World Hypertension Day which is celebrated on the 17th of May every year.
The Commissioner said that hypertension is the main cause of cardiovascular disease, and about one billion people are living with it globally.
This is to ensure that more residents take the advantage to undergo medical checks of their blood pressure without paying any money.
World Health Organization during the occasion, promised to keep supporting Anambra State in its effort to ensure that more people have access to quality healthcare.
The prevalence of Hypertension in Nigeria is 28% which corresponds with the recent data from the Solution Know Your Number Campaign Project in Anambra State which shows that out of 2,362 persons screened for Hypertension, 651 (28%) were diagnosed with hypertension out of which 254 (39%) were newly diagnosed cases for hypertension while 396 (61%) were previously known cases.
These numbers, unfortunately, continue to rise, necessitating a proactive approach by the Governor Soludo led administration to ensure that adequate sensitization is carried out and residents have access to the medications they need for effective management and treatment.
Dr. Obidike noted that so far, the government had distributed three hundred and sixty kits to al the primary health centers as well as General Hospitals across the State to encourage more people to test their blood pressure regularly.
According to him, there are also room for counseling and guide on on pharmaco drugs that hypertensive persons could take to control and treat it.
He noted that the complications associated with inadequate or in accurate blood pressure measurement were massive including hypertension, stroke, among other non communicable diseases.
The Coordinator World Health Organization in Anambra State, Dr. Bonos Mohammed, said that the organization targets to screen about three thousand people free during the period noting that the global agency will continue to partner the state in ensuring that more people have access to quality healthcare services .
WHO noted that hypertension is preventable with proper habits and diet revealed that the agency has concludes plans to upscale the hypertension check during the Upcoming Annual August Women Meeting in other to reach more people.
The Programme Officer, Non-Communicable Disease in Anambra state, Mrs. Adaku Egoh, explained that apart from sensitizing the public through Radio jingles and participatory programs, trained health workers have been positioned at various locations Including the State Secretariat in Awka to encourage more people to check their blood pressure free of charge.
The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Pharmacist Chisom Uchem, the Permanent Secretary, Anambra State Ministry of Health, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo, and other top health officers were along those that attended the event which was wrapped up with a road walk within Awka the State capital where fliers containing vital steps to treat hypertension were distributed to the people.
