2024 World Hypertension Day: Kano State Government Offers Free Screening
Kano state government has declared that the most prevalent Cardiovascular risk factor in the state is hypertension with 28.5%.
The declaration was made on Friday by the Kano State Commissioner of Health Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, while briefing the media in commemoration of the 2024 World Hypertension Day, which has its theme as “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, and Live Longer”
According to Dr Yusuf, an estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30 – 79 years worldwide have hypertension, while the prevalence rate in Nigeria is 27.6 %.
He earmarked Hypertension as a major cause of health problems such as strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease among others.
“Many people who suffer from hypertension are not aware that they have it as there can be no symptoms, often people only find out after suffering a heart attack or stroke”
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He stressed that hypertension can be managed and its consequences avoided or delayed with physical activity, healthy diet, maintaining a normal body weight, avoiding tobacco use, regular screening, use of medication and treatment of complications among others.
“Hypertension which is a non-communicable disease (NCD) refers Hypertension is defined as a sustained elevated blood pressure greater than or equal to140mmHg systolic and/or greater than or equal to 90mmHg diastolic”
The commissioner explained that, as part of the activities to commemorate the 2024 World Hypertension Day, the ministry had set up a volunteer manned screening site in Gwale Local Government Area to check blood pressure.
He also pointed out that the state government in collaboration with development partners has recorded tremendous achievement through free screening and provision of subsidized medications for hypertensive patients.
“Continuous training of healthcare personnel on the management of hypertension, Strengthening, non-communicable diseases program of the Ministry especially in the management Diabetics and other Non-communicable Diseases”
While commending Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Emirs of the five emirate councils government ministries and development partners for effective health care delivery, he urged the public to visit the nearest hospital for regular screening to maintain a healthy society.
