Focused on the aim of providing an opportunity to discuss contemporary challenges in tackling the menace of hypertension in Nigeria, the Nigerian Hypertension Society organized its 24th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference tagged (Eko2024) at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), held on Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th of July, 2024.
The 2-day conference themed, 'Management of Hypertension in a Depressed Economy and Sub-theme Hypertension in Children: The Past, Present and Future and Health Financing of Hypertension & Hypertension-Related Diseases’, had in attendance medical experts from all over the country.
The Chairman of Local Organizing Committee who is also the Director of Clinical Services and Training in LASUTH, Prof. Adebowale O. Adekoya while welcoming dignitaries said the conference was organized to provide a unique platform for healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders as they share their insights, experiences and research findings. “As a society, together, we will explore ways to enhance hypertension prevention, diagnosis, and treatment even as we navigate the economic challenges facing our nation”, he said.
In the same vein, the President of the Society, Prof. Simeon Isezuo, stated that the conference provides an avenue for analysis of the new initiatives in reducing the burden of hypertension and the incorporation of management of hypertension into primary healthcare. He also said that “it would be an opportunity for the participants to review international standards and conclude on certain structural models to ensure quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Present at the event was Professor Akin Abayomi, the Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, who emphasized the commitment of Lagos State Government to sustainable healthcare delivery, particularly for chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes. He highlighted alarming statistics, suggesting that more than 30% of adults in Nigeria suffer from hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure.
He noted that the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Health, is about to establish a drug management agency. The agency will not only help contain costs but also promote the local production of generic drugs for metabolic diseases, thereby stabilizing the cost of medications.
He announced that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has signed an executive order domesticating the National Health Insurance Authority Act of 2022. "This mandates that every citizen of Lagos possess a social health insurance scheme, ensuring access to a minimum service package that includes treatment for metabolic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. Enrolled residents will have access to medication free of charge”, the Commissioner said.
Prof. Basden Onwubere who delivered the inaugural memorial lecture of Oladipo Akinkugbe titled ‘Hypertension, The Albatross: Trends in Combating it in Nigeria’, highlighted the roles the society has played in combating the hypertension albatross in Nigeria. He spoke on pathophysiology and pathological considerations, the global burden of hypertension, hypertension in Sub-Saharan Africa, hypertension in Nigeria, and combating the Albatross through Preventive Strategies, Primordial Prevention, Primary Prevention, and Secondary Prevention. He also touched on drug treatment for hypertension and its challenges.
Advising the medical practitioners in the conference on the easiest way to curb hypertension in society was the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo, who during his goodwill message, said there is a need to look for the cheapest means of avoiding the disease. This, he said, includes early detection through an increased provision of health screening where certain tests and investigations are made mandatory for the populace.
In the same vein, the Royal Father of the Day, HRM. Oba Olusegun Ogunye, the Ojotumoro Abigi Ijebu Kingdom, Ogun Waterside Local Government, encouraged the participants to take the campaign to the grassroots and schools at large.
The 24th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Hypertension Society was a resounding success, providing a platform for sharing knowledge, fostering collaborations, and driving innovation in hypertension management. The event underscored the importance of a multi-faceted approach to addressing hypertension, involving healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the community. As Nigeria continues to grapple with the challenges posed by hypertension, the insights and strategies discussed at this conference will play a crucial role in shaping the future of hypertension care in the country.
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