Expert Warns about High Rate of Cardiovascular Ailments Among Rural Dwellers

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

A health specialist, Dr. Ngozi Okonkwo, has warned about the prevalence of cardiovascular-related ailments among rural dwellers in Anambra State.

Okonkwo who is a consultant family physician with Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, stated this yesterday during a health outreach organised by the member representing Idemili North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo.

The health expert who is the team lead of other medical experts at the outreach said they were in Idemili South for the first leg of the two-day programme, to attend to patients from all the seven towns in the local government, with a focus on cancer, eye check and cardiovascular diseases.

She however raised the alarm over the number of people suffering cardiovascular-related ailments, yet remained unaware of their health status, which she said was grave danger.

“Over 50 per cent of the people we have conducted checks on are suffering from cardiovascular diseases. You will see people with blood pressure of 170, 180 and even 200, yet they are unaware. This could be very dangerous.

“So what we are doing here is to screen people for cardiovascular health, especially hypertension and diabetes, treat them, and in some cases refer them out to more treatments, but most importantly, we are organising sensitisation and health talks on the need for them to regularly check their health status.”

The lawmaker, Hon. Okonkwo told journalists that the outreach was organised by him for his constituents, in partnership with Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Awka and Senator Annie Okonkwo Foundation.

“The programme is for Idemili North and South, and today is for Idemili South, while we move to Idemili North, tomorrow (today).

“We have a team of doctors here and we dispense glasses and medication and offer counselling on cancer, and if there is need for continuous management, we refer them outside.

“We have 10 doctors, five nurses, five optometrist, and two pharmacists here in the team, totalling 22 health practitioners. 

“As we represent the people and seek to bring home the dividends of democracy, we also need them to be alive and healthy, that is why we thought this up. It has been an annual event for many years, and we partner with The Senator Annie Okonkwo Foundation, which I push myself, in memory of my late father,” he said.