Anambra Launches Free Blood Pressure Screening to Combat Hypertension

By Vincent Ujumadu

The Anambra State government has launched a free blood‑pressure screening program to combat hypertension.

Health Commissioner Dr Afam Obidike announced that the screenings will be carried out in all public hospitals and primary health care centres across the state.

He said the initiative is part of this year’s hypertension awareness campaign, which seeks to curb the rising risk posed by undiagnosed high blood pressure among residents.

Screening is already underway at government‑owned facilities such as Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Awka and General Hospital Enugwukwu, and the services are open to all citizens.

Dr Obidike described hypertension as a “silent killer,” noting that many people are unaware of their condition until serious complications—stroke, kidney failure, heart disease, or sudden death—occur.

He stressed that routine checks and early diagnosis are vital to preventing avoidable deaths, and highlighted the state’s intensified “Solution Know Your Number” campaign, which encourages residents to monitor their blood pressure regularly and adopt healthier lifestyles.

The administration is also working with development partners to raise awareness, broaden treatment access, and strengthen primary health care delivery throughout the state.

Dr Obidike advised the public to maintain a healthy diet, limit alcohol consumption, exercise regularly, manage stress, and perform weekly blood‑pressure checks as part of preventive health care.

He has ordered that all health‑care workers in state‑owned facilities wear visible identification tags while attending to patients.

According to him, the policy aims to improve transparency, prevent impersonation, and bolster public confidence in the health system.

Facility managers will be held accountable for compliance, and monitoring teams will enforce the requirement across hospitals and clinics in the state.

State Non‑Communicable Disease Coordinator Adaku Ego noted that the campaign’s awareness activities include roadshows, public education programmes, free screening exercises, and treatment support services.

Representatives from the World Health Organization and Population Services International, as well as officials from the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, attended the event and reaffirmed their support for efforts to reduce hypertension‑related illnesses and deaths in the state.

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