14/03/2022
Today is the European Day of Cardiovascular Risk Prevention, which aim is to raise awareness about the significance of preventive measures to avoid heart disease.
Cardiovascular diseases(CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, also considered to be a major public health concern particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa(SSA) due to demographic transition largely driven by the high prevalence of potentially modifiable risk factors, accounting for 9.2% of total deaths in the African region.
Consequently, as the Medical Director of Kaumi Shehu Medical Services Ireland, I was honoured and hosted by Hallmark Leadership Initiative (HALI), a non-profit organization located in Borno State Nigeria in collaboration with Docotal Health Foundation to visit El-Kassim and El-Yakub Internally displaced persons(IDPs) camp on the 12th February 2022.
My visit was chaired by both Religious and community leaders who emphasized the prevalence of CVD in their environment, particularly cases and complications of Stroke, Heart attacks, Hypertension and Diabetes mellitus. Thanks to their support, I was able to conduct a sensitization and awareness programme on Cardiovascular risk factors and the prevention of CVDs, followed by a 3-day clinic of free diagnostic and medical services targeting the IDPs and other other vulnerable groups which was successful.
In addition, over 90 patients attended the clinic based on the inclusion criteria established during my first day visit. Alarmingly, most of the patients received immediate treatment for hypertensive crisis, complicated Diabetes mellitus and other heart conditions.
The learning point remains, taking care of our heart is our best investment. By adapting healthy habits, we can create a great defence against the “Silent Killer “i.e. CVDs.
