As part of measures to actualize its vision of improving the life expectancy of residents, the Ogun State Government, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and Resolve To Save Lives (RTSL), has launched the National Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI) in the State.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, during the official launch of the NHCI at the Primary Health Center, Osiele in Odeda Local Government Area of the State, described the rising prevalence of hypertension in the state as alarming, saying it should of urgent concern to government at all levels.
Coker said Cardiovascular Diseases, one of which is hypertension, were responsible to for 11% of deaths in 2018, adding that there is need for relevant stakeholders to join hands with government to fashion out effective healthcare solutions and programmes that will reduce the mortality of Cardiovascular diseases.
She said that the newly introduced hypertension control initiative will improve the management and control rates of high blood pressure in healthcare facilities in Ogun states, aligning its objectives to the Prince Dapo Abiodun led government’s vision of increasing the life expectancy of residents of the State.
“This initiative has a lot of benefits for us in the health sector, and by extension, the people of our state. It will improve early diagnosis and management of hypertension at Primary Health Centers. There will also be
strengthening of our health information system for hypertension.”
“We aim to provide standardized management of hypertension in Primary Health Care Centers within Ogun State through this programme. Let me also state, that the NHCI is in line with His Excellency’s vision for increasing the life expectancy of residents in our state,” She said.
The Representative of Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. U.M Ene-bong in her speech, said the NHCI is presently being piloted in Ogun and Kano States, disclosing that the programme will be scaled up to other states of the Country.
Ene-bong urged the Ogun State government to take ownership and implementation of the project beyond its lifespan, expressing optimism that the State would be a model of reckon for other states on hypertension control.
In his Goodwill Message, the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Sunde Dele-David, appreciated the Ogun State government for creating an enabling environment for a cordial relationship with partners, saying it bond with the FMOH, WHO, and RTSL on the National Hypertension Control Initiative will be beneficial to residents of the state.
