Mr Gbenga Omotosho, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said many Nigerian journalists are suffering from hypertension due to work-related stress.
Speaking at a news conference in Alausa, Ikeja on Friday, Omotosho said high blood pressure is prevalent among media professionals because of newsroom pressures and deadlines.
He spoke during the state government’s launch of a screening and public enlightenment campaign on hypertension and diabetes.
The campaign is tagged “Know Your Numbers and Control Your Numbers.”
“When you go to any newsroom and pick journalists randomly, a high number of them are dealing with hypertension because of deadlines and all of that, but we need to take things easy.
“I’m urging residents to actively participate in the campaign and subscribe to the state health insurance – Ilera Eko – for diagnosis and treatment of other ailments at a subsidised cost,” said Omotosho.
The initiative, which runs from October 28 to November 2, will be available across 300 primary healthcare centres and 30 general hospitals in the state.
Professor Akin Abayomi, the State Commissioner for Health, said the campaign is a joint initiative of the Nigerian Governors Forum aimed at screening 10 million Nigerians, with Lagos targeting 800,000 residents.
Quoting Abayomi, “Today, we bring to you a very important public awareness campaign, it is brought to you courtesy of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Nigeria’s Health Commissioners forum.
“It is tagged Know Your Numbers, Control Your Numbers. It is happening simultaneously across Nigeria.
“States will measure the blood pressure and sugar levels of 10 million Nigerians. This is to bring awareness nationwide to conditions called hypertension and sugar diabetes.
“Of this 10 million, Lagos has been allocated 800,000. The objective is to improve awareness on these ailments.
“High blood pressure, sugar diabetes and obesity are related. Each of them can quietly and slowly have a devastating effect on one’s health.
“Too much unused sugar in the system will silently start to affect vital organs overtime.
“Obesity is a food tank that is always full but unused, it is a reminder of how lifestyle choices can increase body fat and affect overall health.”
Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Health, described hypertension and diabetes as “silent killers” and advised beneficiaries to return for follow-up care and monitoring.