FIC Report (Abia State) – The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has charged healthcare professionals, community leaders, and civil society organizations to unite in mobilizing communities, educating citizens, and creating awareness about hypertension and diabetes diseases.
The Governor who was ably represented by the Deputy Governor Engr Ikechukwu Emetu disclosed this while Flagging off the Project 10 Million, Abia State, with the theme: “Know Your Number, Control Your Number”, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. Gov. Otti, decried that Nigeria has one of the highest burdens of hypertension and diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa, observing also that, “It is estimated that millions of Nigerians live with these conditions, often undiagnosed and untreated”.
The Governor enjoined the stakeholders to reach out to the youth, who are the heartbeat of our state, to get involved in promoting health within their communities.
The Governor, who described the project (the national health campaign) as a remarkable initiative, observed that it is aimed at screening 10 million Nigerians for hypertension and diabetes.
According to him, this effort is a monumental step towards building a healthier, more resilient Abia State and Nigeria at large, and creating a future where preventable diseases no longer threaten the quality of life of our citizens.
Gov. Otti said, “This campaign, aiming to reach 10 million Nigerians, is the largest of its kind and underscores the government’s commitment to preventive healthcare. This initiative will help us identify cases early and provide necessary interventions, thus reducing the long-term impact on individuals and the healthcare system. This campaign requires the cooperation and active participation of every Abian”.
Gov. Otti who espoused and expounded the need for early diagnosis, said that screening is a critical preventive measure as lack of diagnosis can lead to life-threatening complications, including heart disease, kidney failure, stroke, and blindness.
The Governor, who expressed the commitment of his administration to provide resources and facilities to ensure that the program reached as many people as possible across Abia communities, solicited the support of the Federal Ministry of Health and international healthcare organizations like the WHO, UNICEF among others.
Furthermore he asserted that his administration is determined to bring this vision to life.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said that the Project 10 Million provides a clear path through a well coordinated strategy in the State’s battle against the menace of Hypertension and Diabetes.
He expressed optimism that the initiative will improve the profile of early diagnosis, create health-conscious communities, and reposition the state to the frontiers in the successful management of Non-communicable Diseases, NCDs.
The State Coordinator, Project 10 Million Abia/Director of Public Health, State Ministry of Health, Dr. Agomoh Princess Orieji, called for the support and collaboration of all stakeholders to ensure the success of the initiative.
His words, “Looking ahead following the success of the initial phase, a second phase exclusive to Abia State will extend screening to an additional 5.7 percent of the population, achieving a total coverage of 10 percent . This expansion is envisioned to further extend access to early detection and treatment services, building a healthier and more resilient Abia State”.
Signed
Amah Ijeoma
FIC, Deputy Governor Correspondent
