Kano state Ministry of Health, in it’s determination to ameliorate financial constraint, hypertension patients were facing ,the board has resolved to offered free enrollment of vulnerable hypertension patients at Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, (KSCHMA).
This was just as the ministry said that The prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria is 27.6 and it has found that in Kano the most prevalent Cardiovascular risk factor was hypertension which is 28.5% out of which nearly two-thirds (60.7%) of these hypertensives were newly discovered.
The State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, made this known on Friday at a press conference marking the 2024 World Hypertension Day, held at EOC, Abdullahi Wase Hospital on Friday.
According to him, the enrollment exercise, which would last for a week, would enable vulnerable hypertensive persons get free or subsidized screening and medication.
He added that the enrollment is part of the state government’s resolve to reduce the ailment to the nearest minimum as Kano has the the highest number of hypertension patients in the country with 28.5 percent of its population are hypertensive.
His words ” An estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30 – 79 years worldwide have hypertension. It was estimated that the global burden of hypertension will increase to more than 31% of the world’s adult population by 2025.
“Hypertension is a major cause of a range of health problems such as strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease among others.
“Many people who suffer from hypertension are not aware that they have it as there can be no symptoms, often people only find out after suffering a heart attack or stroke.
However, according to the Commissioner, hypertension could be managed and its consequences be avoided or delayed with “physical activity, healthy diet, maintaining a normal body weight, avoiding tobacco use, regular screening, use of medication and treatment of complications.”
He said since the inception of the current administration, the state Government in collaboration with partners and other stakeholders have made remarkable achievements.
The achievements include fee screening of patient and provision of subsidized medications for hypertensives patients across the state hospitals.
“Free enrolment of vulnerable hypertensives patients in KSCHMA schemes.
Improved Health Care Financing through KHETFUND and KSCHMA schemes.
Continuous training of healthcare personnel on management of hypertension and other Noncommunicable Diseases.
“Strengthened the non-communicable diseases program of the Ministry especially in the management of Hypertension, Diabetics and other Noncommunicable Diseases,” he disclosed.
The Commissioner commended the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf for what he described as “immense support to the health sector. I also wish to express our gratitude to our Royal Highnesses, the Emirs of Bichi, Kano, Gaya, Karaye and Rano for their immense support to healthcare delivery in the state.”
