Oyo records high cases of hypertension in education, agric ministry

Oyo State government’s free medical check-up to reduce untimely death among civil servants recorded the highest cases of people with hypertension at its Ministries of Education and Agriculture, an analysis of the exercise had shown

Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Azzez Adeduntan said the 10-day exercise tested about 8,500 civil servants and gave free drugs to 14 per cent with high blood pressure.

Adeduntan, speaking though Dr Ayoola Adebisi, Director, Secondary Healthcare and Training, said about 35 persons also tested positive for diabetes.

The health commissioner, remarking that the exercises also afforded HIV testing and screening as well as free treatment for medical conditions, said diabetes and hypertension were common diseases contributing to sudden deaths in Nigeria.

According to him, “50 critical cases were picked and referred to Oyo State Secretariat Clinic during the exercise.”

While more cases of hypertension and diabetes were recorded in men than women in the exercise, he experienced concern that many people were not even aware that hypertension was a silent killer or that they have a raised blood pressure.

The mandatory testing for blood pressure and diabetes, he said the state government embarked on because of reported cases of sudden deaths among civil servants at work

Dr Adeduntan, said workers in the state would do well to embark on routine medical checkups and not only when gravely ill, as well as maintain a healthy lifestyle, stressing that a healthy workforce can translate to productive workforce.