Reports show that the Lagos State Government has 8.67 million residents living with hypertension, having current increase in the cases of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, revealed this on Friday during the unveiling and launch of a state-wide free screening on hypertension and diabetes.
The Commissioner further stated that about 3.48 million residents are living with obesity while another 1.73 million lived with diabetes.
He also disclosed that a free screening exercise with the theme, ‘Know Your Numbers, Control Your Numbers’ will run from October 28 to November 3, 2024, across all local government areas in Lagos state, aimed towards curbing the rising increase of the aforementioned illnesses.
The screening excerise, which is a campaign and an initiative under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum project, tagged, “Project 10 Million – Know Your Number, Control Your Number” seeks to combat the rising cases of cardiovascular diseases in the country, particularly hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.
Speaking further, the commissioner, stated that the state government will provide free screening to 800,000 residents within the period.
“We may even get more than 800,000 people who would have been tested at the end of the week,” he said.
The commissioning of the project is aimed at promoting early detection, prevention, and control of cardiometabolic diseases.
He stressed that it was important to do regular checkups, warning that the symptoms of hypertension and diabetes showed up when they became serious with dire consequences for the patient.
Commissioner Abayomi further cautioned that hypertension and diabetes not only killed but also caused damage to persons’ organs through stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure, among others.
In his speech he said: "Knowing your vital health metrics empowers you to take timely actions and make the right decision concerning your health. Controlling them prevents complications that may arise from ignorance or neglect”.
The Commissioner also urged the residents to key into the programmme and get tested to know their numbers and embrace healthy lifestyles such as reduced sugar, salt, and alcohol consumption, while warning against smoking.
The special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, while speaking, said the state government had done a lot in terms of free medical outreach positioned to helping people cope with their health challenges in the state.
