The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced the screening of 250,000 residents for hypertension and diabetes in Abuja as part of efforts to tackle the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.
The official launch of the exercise took place on Wednesday and will run until 8th November 2024. It is part of the Project 10 Million nationwide seven-day screening initiative, introduced by the Committee of Health Commissioners, with support from the Governors’ Forum and the Federal Ministry of Health.
With the theme “Know Your Number, Control Your Number,” the campaign aims to screen 10 million Nigerians for blood pressure and blood sugar levels to combat non-communicable diseases, which often develop silently without symptoms and pose significant health risks.
At the launch, Adedolapo Fasawe, mandate secretary for the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, stated that the free screening initiative was motivated by the government’s observation of an increasing number of people suddenly collapsing and dying, with non-communicable diseases on the rise.
“We were focusing a lot on HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, but all of a sudden, younger people are dropping dead. Older people who are otherwise well in the morning will slump in the afternoon. And at post-mortem, we are realizing that people had undiagnosed heart diseases”, she said.
She noted that one in every 27 Nigerians is hypertensive, prompting the government to launch Project 10 Million to identify those affected, educate them, and provide necessary medication.
According to her, this will ultimately improve citizens’ quality of life, enhance productivity at work, and, in the long run, contribute positively to the nation’s GDP.
She emphasised that conditions like hypertension and diabetes are very treatable if detected early and highlighted that the programme would be brought directly to citizens’ doorsteps.
“The purpose of this programme is to reach people who find it challenging to leave their workplaces, markets, or farms to visit hospitals for check-ups. We are bringing Project 10 Million directly to where people live, work, and play. We’ll be present in every area council, and the good news is it will run for an entire week,” she said.
Fasawe further remarked that healthcare delivery in the FCT has significantly improved under Nyesom Wike, minister of the FCT, evidenced by reports from the screened civil servants.
“Working under Wike’s leadership emphasizes an active lifestyle, helping to reduce the risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases:, she added.
She urged residents to take advantage of the opportunity, allowing health workers to assess their blood pressure and blood sugar levels, stressing that early detection makes managing these conditions more effective.
The programme will reach over 200 communities across the FCT, with health workers travelling across Abuja to ensure accessibility, particularly for underserved communities, thereby guaranteeing vulnerable populations equitable access to essential care.
General hospitals, primary healthcare centres, mosques, churches, markets, garages, and parks will be included to maximise reach and convenience.
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