Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, has said that to reduce the population of hypertensive patients in the country, governments must increase awareness and facilities available for blood pressure screening.
Idris said this during the five-day screening programme organised by New Heights Pharma for civil servants in the state and the donation of OMRON blood pressure monitors to the Lagos State Primary Care Board in Lagos on Monday.
He urged residents to visit health centres regularly for medical check-ups to encourage early detection and management of the condition to reduce the likelihood of developing strokes or cardiovascular diseases in affected persons.
Also, Managing Director of New Heights Pharma, Mr. Ogheneochuko Omaruaye, said the organisation facilitated the free screening programme to raise awareness on the causes and consequences of high blood pressure and to encourage adults to check their blood pressure regularly with validated and registered devices at home.
Omaruaye said, “We decided to add our voice to the campaign for proper monitoring of blood pressure as WHO is calling for intensified efforts to prevent and control high blood pressure. Hypertension increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. Worldwide, one in three adults has high blood pressure. But the danger in Nigeria is that about 16 million adults are estimated to be hypertensive and 92 per cent are not aware.”