A professor of Medicine in the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Professor Ibraheem Katibi, has advised the three tiers of government in the country to empower religious bodies/congregations, cooperative societies, road transport workers, barbers and other organisations to screen for high blood pressure among people.

Delivering the 126th inaugural lecture of the university entitled: The choice is yours, but the burden is ours, at the weekend, Professor Katibi said members of the groups could be given basic training and provided with simple automated medical equipment to detect non communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes, among others.

Katibi, who said the selection of the groups was informed by the fact that they attract large number of people, added that no efforts should be spared to curb the rising cases of cardio vascular diseases among Nigerians. 

He said that government should embark on training and licensing of more health manpower, particularly community health officers and nurses, adding that government should improve spread, quality and staffing of primary health care facilities nationwide to combat reduce cases of high blood pressure among people.

He also said that Nigerians, particularly those above age of 40 years, should always go for regular annual medical check-up, adding that the practice was part of activities that could reduce cases of non-communicable diseases like cardio vascular, hypertension, diabetes, among others.

Professor Katibi also advocated physical activity as part of activities to curb the disease, saying that physical activity as opposed to sedentary lifestyle is one of the ways to prevent hypertension and hypertension-related diseases.

“It is generally recommended to spend 35 to 40 minutes alternate days or most days of the week on exercise which could be as simple as brisk walking, jogging or playing one game or the other”, he said.

The don also cautioned on individual’s eating habit, adding that people must learn to imbibe healthy eating habit.

“The golden rule is to eat most minimally, just to keep body and soul together rather than eating to full satisfaction or according to affordability.

“Fat should only constitute less that 30 per cent of total calories consumed. Even then, total and saturated fat are better avoided. Fish, soya beans or vegetable oil is to be preferred to groundnut oil. The diet should also be low in animal fat, butter, eggs and red meat. High fat food such as pastries, cakes, sweets, chocolate, sausages, crisps, hamburgers, hotdogs, french-fries and chips are to be avoided. Similarly, grilled, boiled, steamed or baked food is to be preferred. Fish and lean chicken are recommended preferentially to red meat. Low salt diet is as important as drinking enough fluid”, he said.

Professor Katibi called for improved funding for cardio vascular research in particular and health research as a whole, “as we pass through epidemiologic transition”. 

He also said that smokers should quit and that non-smokers should endeavour not to start, adding that passive smoking is as important and dangerous as active one.