The Nigerian Hypertension Society (NHS) has declared a Free Blood Pressure Checks (FBPC) for all Nigerian citizens throughout the month of May 2018 to commemorate this year’s celebrations of World Hypertension Day (WHD).
The group have mobilised all government-owned hospitals while volunteers are going round the states of the federation to ensure effective coverages of the exercise.
May 17 is observed annually to create awareness on the inherent dangers of undiagnosed hypertension said to be the major cause of sudden deaths mainly among middle aged people.
According to a statement jointly signed by the President and Secretary General of the NHS, Professor A. B. O. Omotosho and Dr K. W. Wahab, the purpose of the day was to increase high blood pressure awareness around the world.
The statement made available to journalists in Ilorin noted that the ultimate target was to encourage citizens of all countries to prevent and control the silent killer, the modern epidemic.
"Indeed, only about one-third of those who are hypertensive are aware of their status while only about one-third are on treatment in spite of availability of potent drugs.
"Hypertension only announces its presence in most people after they have suffered from stroke, heart failure, heart attack or kidney failure. The social and economic toll of these complications of hypertension on immediate families and the nation at large is enormous." the statement read.