Civil servants in the Oyo State ministries of education and agriculture are with high cases of hypertension, a recent analysis of exercise has shown.
According to the state health commissioner, Dr Azeez Adeduntan, the state free medical check-up organised to reduce untimely death among civil servants recorded the highest cases of people with hypertension at the two ministries.
Nigerian Tribune quoted Adeduntan as revealing that the 10-day exercise saw about 8,500 civil servants being tested, while free drugs were given to 14 per cent with high blood pressure.
Adeduntan, who spoke though the Director of Secondary Healthcare and Training, Dr Ayoola Adebisi, explained that about 35 persons also tested positive for diabetes.
Remarking that the exercises also afforded HIV testing and screening as well as free treatment for medical conditions, he said diabetes and hypertension were common diseases contributing to sudden deaths in Nigeria.
According to him, “50 critical cases were picked and referred to Oyo State Secretariat Clinic during the exercise.”
While more cases of hypertension and diabetes were recorded in men than women in the exercise, he experienced concern that many people were not even aware that hypertension was a silent killer or that they have a raised blood pressure.
The mandatory testing for blood pressure and diabetes, he said, the state government embarked on because of reported cases of sudden deaths among civil servants at work
Adeduntan added that workers in the state would do well to embark on routine medical checkups and not only when gravely ill, as well as maintain a healthy lifestyle, stressing that a healthy workforce can translate to productive workforce.
