Medical experts have called on Nigerians not to wait for symptoms to manifest before seeking medical assistance. Instead, they emphasised the importance of proactive health check-ups and screenings, especially for diabetes and hypertension, as part of the “Project 10 Million” Awareness Campaign.
Speaking during a live interactive session on FUNAAB Radio 89.5FM, the Director of Public Health, Ogun State Ministry of Health, Dr. Festus Soyinka, highlighted the significance of the campaign titled “Project 10 Million – Know Your Number, Control Your Number.” He explained that the initiative was aimed at addressing the rising cases of Non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension, which are among the leading causes of death in Nigeria.
Dr. Soyinka revealed that the project intends to screen 10 million Nigerians for these conditions, with 350,000 residents of Ogun State set to benefit from the free screening exercise. He stressed the need for regular health check-ups as a measure to combat the growing prevalence of these ailments.
Echoing this sentiment, the Ag. Director of FUNAAB Health Services, Dr. Oluseyi Anjorin, advised individuals to monitor their blood pressure and sugar levels every two days. He warned that by the time symptoms of these conditions appear, vital organs may already be compromised.
The Project 10 Million team were at strategic locations within FUNAAB to provide the free screening services for both staff and students. The screening locations included the Green Chamber, Motion Ground, Postgraduate School Auditorium, 1,000 Seater Auditorium, and several Colleges within the University.
Earlier, Dr. Soyinka paid a Courtesy-Visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, where he outlined the objectives of the campaign. He noted that the initiative was aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality from hypertension and diabetes. In response, the Vice-Chancellor expressed gratitude to the Ogun State Government for including FUNAAB in the health programme.
