The Anambra State Government has expanded efforts to tackle hypertension by introducing free blood pressure screening services across public hospitals and primary healthcare centres, while also enforcing new accountability measures for health workers.
State Commissioner for Health, Afam Obidike, said the initiative forms part of activities marking this year’s hypertension awareness campaign and aims to address the growing threat posed by undiagnosed high blood pressure among residents.
According to him, free screening is currently ongoing at government-owned health facilities, including Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital and General Hospital Enugwukwu, with services available to all residents.
Obidike described hypertension as a “silent killer”, warning that many people remain unaware they are living with the condition until severe complications such as stroke, kidney failure, heart disease, or sudden death occur.
He stressed that routine checks and early diagnosis are essential to preventing avoidable fatalities.
The commissioner said the government has intensified the “Solution Know Your Number” campaign to encourage residents to monitor their blood pressure regularly and adopt healthier lifestyles.
He added that the administration is collaborating with development partners to improve awareness, expand treatment access, and strengthen primary healthcare delivery statewide.
Residents were advised to maintain healthy diets, reduce alcohol intake, exercise regularly, manage stress, and undergo weekly blood pressure checks as part of preventive healthcare measures.
In a related development, Obidike directed all healthcare workers in state-owned facilities to wear visible identification tags while attending to patients.
He said the policy is intended to improve transparency, prevent impersonation, and strengthen public confidence in the health system.
Facility managers, he noted, would be held accountable for compliance, while monitoring teams would oversee enforcement across hospitals and clinics.
The State Non-Communicable Disease Coordinator, Adaku Ego, said awareness activities organised under the campaign include roadshows, public education programmes, free screening exercises, and treatment support services.
Representatives of World Health Organization and Population Services International attended the briefing alongside officials from the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, reaffirming support for ongoing efforts to reduce hypertension-related illnesses and deaths in the state.
