To tackle
the health challenges confronted by Lagos residents, The State Government has
launched a state-wide screening and public enlightenment campaign on
hypertension and diabetes.
The health campaign is tagged, “Know Your
Numbers and Control Your Numbers”.
The campaign will run from Oct. 28 to Nov. 2 at the state’s 300
primary healthcare centers and 30 general hospitals.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi,
announced this at a press conference in Alausa, Ikeja, area of Lagos.
Prof. Abayomi explained that the campaign was a
brainchild of the Nigerian Governors Forum to raise awareness and provide free
screening for hypertension and diabetes, two leading non-communicable diseases.
According to him, “Today, we
bring to you a very important public awareness campaign courtesy of the Nigerian
Governors Forum and Nigeria’s Health Commissioners Forum.
” It is tagged
Know Your Numbers, Control Your Numbers. It is happening simultaneously across
Nigeria.
He explained that the states will measure the blood
pressure and sugar levels of 10 million Nigerians. This is to
raise awareness nationwide about conditions such as hypertension and sugar
diabetes.
Prof Abayomi noted that of this 10 million, Lagos has been allocated
800,000, noting that, " the
objective is to improve awareness on these ailments.
The commissioner who disclosed that the aim was to encourage
health-seeking behaviour among Lagos residents,
said," High blood pressure, sugar diabetes, and obesity are
related. Each of them can quietly and slowly have a devastating effect on
people’s health.
He said too much unused sugar in the system will silently
start to affect vital organs over time.
" Obesity is
a food tank that is always full but unused,
it is a reminder of how lifestyle
choices can increase body fat and affect overall health".
Abayomi
" Nigerians
to get tested to know their statuses as
regards high blood pressure and diabetes ".
The Commissioner while urging people to embrace healthy lifestyles
such as moderation in sugar, salt, and alcohol consumption, emphasized a
smoke-free attitude, and again warned that
" smoking has deadly repercussions".
The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr
Kemi Ogunyemi, said that the state government had done a lot in terms of
free medical outreach to help the residents improve their health.
Dr Ogunyemi stated that when treatments are initiated a lot of
residents don’t follow, up for them to monitor their progress and act accordingly.
According to her, "The
awareness is important because these are silent killers in the real sense
of it.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr
Gbenga Omotosho, called on journalists to participate in the campaign due to the
stress associated with their job.
Mr Omotosho said,
“When you go to any newsroom and pick
journalists randomly, a high number of them are dealing with hypertension
because of deadlines and all of that, but we need to take things easy".
He urged Lagos residents to actively participate in the
campaign and subscribe to the state health insurance – Ilera Eko – for
diagnosis and treatment.
By Sherifat Oyediran
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