The Federal Government said it was set to provide affordable diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases at the Primary Healthcare Centres.
It said the implementation would commence in the Federal Capital Territory and 17 states across the six geopolitical zones.
Speaking during the launch of the AstraZeneca Healthy Heart Africa Initiative held in Abuja, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Office, Dr Faisal Shuaib, said the launch of the programme signalled the beginning of hypertension services availability in PHCs in the implementing states.
The implementing states are Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Adamawa and Gombe. Others are Nasarawa, Kwara, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Imo, Anambra, Enugu; Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and the Federal Capital Territory.
Shuaib noted that cardiovascular diseases were of significant public health concern, as “it is responsible for 11 per cent of over two million deaths from non-communicable diseases in Nigeria annually.”
He added that majority of Nigerians were not aware of their blood pressure status, hence the Federal Government was collaborating with AstraZeneca through the HHA Initiative to provide affordable diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases at the Primary Healthcare Centres.
