Kwara State screens over 100,000 for hypertension and blood sugar

The Kwara State government has successfully screened 102,452 residents for hypertension and blood sugar levels as part of a statewide health initiative.

This achievement was announced by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, during a media briefing in Ilorin, the state capital. She commended the public for their active participation in the program, which she described as a significant milestone.

The screenings were conducted under the Project 10 Million, a nationwide initiative launched by health commissioners from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The project aims to screen 10 million Nigerians for high blood pressure and blood sugar to promote early detection and management of these health conditions.

In a statement released on Sunday by the Ministry of Health’s Press Secretary, Gbenga Falade, Dr. El-Imam highlighted that the exercise ran from October 28 to November 10, 2024, and recorded substantial success due to widespread cooperation among stakeholders.

Key supporters included members of the state executive council, traditional rulers led by the Emir of Ilorin, local government chairpersons, health workers, and religious leaders from both Muslim and Christian communities. Other contributors included market leaders, labor unions, media practitioners, the World Health Organization, and other development partners.

Dr. El-Imam noted that Kwara emerged as one of the top-performing states in the project, having screened over 102,000 people across its 16 local government areas.

She thanked Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his unwavering support and described the initiative as one of the largest health interventions targeting adults in the state, regardless of gender.

The commissioner urged residents to regularly monitor their blood pressure and sugar levels to help control these health conditions and reduce preventable deaths.