Kano Provides Patients With Hypertension With Free Services

Patients with susceptible hypertension can now enroll at Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA) for free thanks to a promotion from the Kano State Ministry of Health.

This was revealed at a news conference conducted on Friday at the Abdullahi Wase Hospital to commemorate the 2024 World Hypertension Day, by the state's commissioner of health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran.

He claimed that vulnerable hypertensive individuals will be able to receive free or subsidized screening and medication as part of the enrollment process, which would run for a week.

Yusuf claims that the enrollment is a component of the state government's commitment to minimize the condition because Kano has the highest percentage of hypertensive patients in the nation (28.5 percent of the population).

Around 1.28 billion adults in the world who are ages 30-79 globally suffer from hypertension. By 2025, it is predicted that the prevalence of hypertension worldwide would rise to over 31% of the population.

"In Kano, hypertension was found to be the most common cardiovascular risk factor, accounting for 28.5 percent of cases. Nearly two-thirds of these cases were recently diagnosed. The prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria is 27.6 percent of the population.

The condition known as hypertension is a major contributor to a number of health issues, including heart attacks, strokes, and renal illness. Because it can have no symptoms, many people with hypertension are unaware that they have it. People frequently don't learn until after having a heart attack or stroke," he said.

The commissioner did point out that physical activity, a balanced diet, keeping a normal body weight, abstaining from tobacco use, routine screenings, taking medication, and treating complications could all help manage hypertension and prevent or delay its repercussions.

He stated that the state government, working with partners and other stakeholders, has accomplished amazing things since the present administration took office, such as offering free patient screenings and subsidized drugs to hypertension patients at all state hospitals.

The state governor, Abba Yusuf, received praise from the commissioner for what he called tremendous support for the health sector.