FIC REPORT (LAGOS STATE) – The Physiotherapy Department of Alimosho General Hospital has marked the 2026 World Physiotherapy Day with a health-awareness programme featuring free consultations, medical screenings and treatment for patients and members of staff, with a strong focus on the prevention, management and rehabilitation of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
The programme, organised in line with the global theme, “Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke,”brought together healthcare professionals, patients and hospital staff to highlight the often-underestimated role of physiotherapy in reducing the impact of cardiovascular conditions and helping stroke survivors regain functional independence.
Speaking at the event, the Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr Akinyele Akinlade, commended the Physiotherapy Department for its commitment to improving healthcare delivery, stressing that successful management of stroke and cardiovascular disease required a coordinated effort by different health professionals.
Akinlade said no single medical specialty should be regarded as superior to another in the treatment of patients, explaining that each discipline had a distinct responsibility within the broader healthcare system.
He noted that while doctors are primarily responsible for diagnosis and prescribing appropriate treatment, physiotherapists play a critical role in rehabilitation, helping patients recover movement, strength, balance and other functional abilities affected by illness or injury.
According to him, effective patient care is not the responsibility of one professional alone, but depends on collaboration among doctors, physiotherapists, dietitians, nurses and other healthcare practitioners working towards the same objective.
The Medical Director also challenged patients to take greater responsibility for their health, urging them not to leave their wellbeing entirely in the hands of healthcare providers.
He advised patients to adhere strictly to medical instructions, maintain good personal hygiene and adopt healthier dietary and lifestyle practices capable of reducing their exposure to preventable illnesses.
The importance of nutrition in cardiovascular and brain health was further underscored by the hospital’s dietitian, Oludayo Sowoolu-Coates, who urged participants to regard what they eat as a major component of disease prevention and management.
Sowoolu-Coates encouraged the public to become more deliberate about their eating habits, stressing that a healthy diet must provide the body with adequate and balanced quantities of essential vitamins and minerals.
She advised people to reduce their intake of unhealthy foods, pay closer attention to food storage and preparation practices, and avoid excessive portions, particularly where such habits could increase the risk of lifestyle-related diseases.
Focusing on stroke, Physiotherapist Olalekan Babaseesin (PT.) challenged the persistent misconception that the condition is primarily a spiritual affliction, insisting that stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
Babaseesin explained that stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted, either by a blockage in a blood vessel or by the rupture of a blood vessel, depriving brain cells of oxygen and potentially resulting in permanent neurological damage.
He identified paralysis or weakness, facial deviation and slurred speech among the major warning signs, urging anyone who notices such symptoms in themselves or another person to seek medical attention without delay.
He stressed that the speed with which a stroke patient receives appropriate medical intervention can significantly influence the outcome, making public awareness and early response critical to reducing disability and improving chances of recovery.
Beyond treatment, Babaseesin disclosed that the Physiotherapy Department also places considerable emphasis on prevention through health education, particularly by creating awareness of major stroke risk factors.
He identified conditions and lifestyle factors including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and smoking as important risks requiring attention, while noting that physiotherapy also remains an essential component of rehabilitation for people who have already suffered a stroke.
According to him, rehabilitation is aimed not merely at treating the immediate effects of stroke but at helping survivors regain as much independence and quality of life as possible.
The event also provided an opportunity for participants to access basic health assessments and professional advice at no cost.
As part of the programme, the Medical Director approved free screening and treatment for participants, while the hospital’s Physiotherapy Department provided consultations and health education.
Participants also benefited from free blood pressure and blood sugar checks, alongside physiotherapy consultations, health-awareness sessions and the distribution of souvenirs.
The celebration therefore served a dual purpose: raising awareness about cardiovascular disease and stroke while providing practical preventive and rehabilitative healthcare services to members of the hospital community.
The organisers stressed that the occasion was not simply a commemorative exercise but an opportunity to reinforce the message that prevention, early detection, timely medical intervention and sustained rehabilitation remain crucial in reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Sourced and Reported by,
Ebere Okeke.
Senior information Office.
11 / 09/ 2026 .
