The Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), FCT Chapter, Dr Titus Ebekwe, at the weekend urged regular sensitisation of rural communities to health management to reduce diseases.
Ebekwe made the call during a medical outreach to Nyanyan Community in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NMA, FCT Chapter, holds a quarterly medical outreach and sensitisation programme in different communities in the FCT.
Ebekwe said that people needed to be enlightened on health management to help them in forming decisions as regards their health.
“They say information is power; therefore, the people need to be more educated on how best to manage their health.
“If we are able to arm people well with all the good health practices they need, we can reduce the import of illnesses, morbidity and mortality,’’ he said
Ebekwe said that the programme was aimed at educating the people on how to live in good health.
“Malaria will be our focus because it is rampant in this community.
“A lot of non-communicable diseases are becoming a big challenge; so, we will look at hypertension and kidney disease.
‘’We will do health screenings, make diagnosis and treat illnesses that can be handled immediately; those we cannot, we refer to appropriate places for follow-up,” he said.
The Chief of Nyanyan Community, Danladi Iya, told the team during a courtesy visit to him, that malaria was the major illness suffered in the community.
Iya hailed the Federal Government for efforts to prevent malaria through provision of mosquito treated nets.
He, however, urged more efforts toward malaria prevention.
Dr Mamak Mamven, the Head of Nephrology Department, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, sensitised the members of the community to the need to be health conscious.
Mamven said that prevention was the key to maintaining a healthy life.
She urged them to keep their surroundings clean, shun self medication, herbal concoctions and too much salt to prevent kidney diseases.
NAN reports that Cry for Help team, an NGO, led by Mrs Vera Mensah offered free HIV screening and counselling to members of the community.
Also, Senator Lee Maeba Foundation, an NGO focused on diabetes control, was also on ground offering free blood sugar test to members of the community.
NAN reports that other health experts were educating the people on hygiene and health issues that affect the eye, nose and throat.
As a follow up to the World Kidney Day which was marked on March 13, free kidney screening was carried out on members of the community.
The screening was done alongside blood pressure check and other biometrics test.
Some sick people were treated.
Some members of the community, who spoke to newsmen, applauded the NMA for the outreach, and called for its continuity.
Mrs Evelyn Chike said, ‘’what these doctors are doing is very good; we are very happy, but we want more of such. It will help us a lot.’’(NAN)
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