As the world commemorates the international hypertension day, the Anambra State Ministry of Health in conjunction with the World Health Organisation has called on the general public to embrace the culture of knowing one’s hypertension count or status as means to ensuring safer health living and management.
The celebration held on the 19th of May, 2026, at Awka, Anambra state capital with the theme “Controlling Hypertension Together: Check Your Blood Pressure Regularly, Defeat the Silent Killers” was marked by the staff of the Anambra state ministry of Health with a Road walk sensitizing the public the need to ensure proper check up at all times.
In a welcome address shortly after the exercise, the Director Public Health, Dr Afam Anaeme said the “we are to inform the general public to know your statues, always keep fit with exercise and healthy diet. We are commemorating with the world today. We have engaged in a road walk where we informed the citizens the importance of routine check on high blood pressure, sugar level, cholesterol and maintain optimum management. We also have free medical test on these cardio diseases at the secretariat here.”
In his address, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike disclosed that the Operation Know Your Numbers was introduced by his administration four years ago to keep proper check on the health being of Ndi Anambra. “This was as a result of complications arising from people slumping and dying, stroke, cardiac issues and hypertension”. He said these numbers represent figures generated during checks on high blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar level. “Good enough these things can be managed in two ways such as pharmacological and non pharmacological ways which is non drug use, we have diet and exercise that is where healthy plliving come into play. We are the product of what we eat and we must begin to check it, frequent exercise and managing your weight.”
We want to reduce these incidence of cardiovascular disease as health workers. So today as we are n marking this, we also want to reaffirm that we are checking our blood pressure free of charge in all primary and secondary facilities. We have at least a functional primary health care per ward in Anambra State.”
Disclosing that one out of ten people are hypertensive, the medical practitioner urged Ndi Anambra to embrace the culture of always checking their blood pressure, sugar level and cholesterol to ensure that proper healthy living is achieved as well as seek guidance if necessary. Adding that the citizens have access to call a medical doctor through the emergency lines.
“In all things whether your hypertensive or diabetic you should watch what you eat, food excess is poisonous. Exercise and as well reduce alcohol intake, there should be a dietary plan, the ministry will come up with it soon.”
Filing questions after the briefing, the Hon Commissioner said, the state government is poised towards maintaining telemedicine practice noting that there is at least one medical personnel in every local government. “We also have the emergent numbers, all scientific officers present because we are going to deeply expand our emblance system. We will also make it accessible which is the agenda, affordable and quality health care.”
“Free maternal health, care the elderly, health issuance to under five years, telemedicine, these are the things we are doing to tell NDI Anambra not to die, our target is a strategical systems that will enhance community health care.”
Although there is high increasing rate of traditional medicines in the treatment of hypertension and diabetics, he disclosed that the importance of alternative medicine cannot be ruled out, noting that in China these medicines strive, what is important is for us to develop it. It’s an institution we must develop, some institution are already doing it. Most important is those selling on the road who mix anti hypertension drugs and pour into bottles and sell. We have started on quality assurance laboratory will be used to test any drugs that is being produced. We have called meetings with traditional medicine practitioners and that whatever they produce will be checkmated and by so doing we will be able to reduce kidney diseases and consumption of any harmful substances.
Also present at the briefing, were permanent secretary, Anambra state ministry of health, Dr Obiegali Uchegbu, director Admin Dr Ilozumba Ekene, Pharm Obum, Director PRS – Dr John Paul Onyekaenaeso, Director medical services – Dr Chukwulobelu Ugochukwu, School health officers, Neglected Tropical Disease officers, director account – Mrs Ada Ezechi, the Rotary International, programme officers for non communicable diseases at the agency – Mrs Edit Ezenwaosu, Desk Officer in the state – Mrs Chiamaka and other health officers.
