*The* government said it was subsidising
some health checks for Nigerians.
As part of plans to check the alarming rate
of sudden death and related health
challenges in the country, President
Goodluck Jonathan has launched a Nigerian
National Stroke Prevention Programme.
The launch took place immediately after the
weekly meeting of the Executive Council of
the Federation, FEC, on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Mr. Jonathan, the programme
was inevitable as a result of the disturbing
rate of sudden deaths and stroke in the
country.
The launch was highlighted by a special
health check on the President and Vice
President Namadi Sambo inside a mobile
ambulance at the fore-court of the
Presidential Villa.
Briefing journalists after the exercise, the
Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said
the programme was approved by the
president as an antidote to sudden death.
Mr. Chukwu said that the government was
worried about the recent alarming rate of
sudden deaths of Nigerians, whom he noted
are mostly in their prime. The programme is
expected to encourage people to check their
health status regularly.
The minister further disclosed that the cost
of the test, which is about N50, 000, has
been reduced by the government through a
subsidized arrangement to now cost N10,
000; particularly for indigent Nigerians.
“The health awareness programme is to
help Nigerians to check up on their health
on regular basis to take fitness seriously and
take close attention to their life styles.
“Apart from in-born pre-conditions, the
main causes of stroke and heart-attack are
things that can be prevented like
hypertension, diabetes, lack of exercise,
excessive consumption of alcohol and
smoking and so on.
“The President felt something needed to be
done on a national scale. So the President
and the Vice President demonstrated
leadership by example by allowing
themselves to go through the same process.
“They were seen by consultants who carried
out some tests on them such as body mass
index, measurement of height and weight,
blood pressure.
“The President approved of the
programmed to be managed by the Federal
Ministry of Health in collaboration with
Federal Teaching Hospitals and other
hospital in Nigeria; as well as the Nigeria in
Diaspora to execute the programme,’’ he
said.
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