By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
The Plateau State First Lady, Barr. Helen Caleb Mutfwang has stated that the Project 10 Million campaign is dedicated to screening and managing hypertension and diabetes mellitus in the state.
According to her, the project campaign represents a critical mission to improve the health and quality of life of the people of Plateau State. The state’s goal is to change lives, save lives, and work towards a healthier, stronger, and more vibrant Plateau.
Barr. Helen explained that the initiative is about screening and increasing public awareness, gathering essential data, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to make health services more accessible across the states and federal capital territory.
The First Lady added that by working together, the state can implement effective communication and data management strategies to guide interventions and improve Nigeria’s health and well-being.
Barr. (Mrs.) Mutfwang, who commended the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum (NHCF) for spearheading and domesticating the campaign, acknowledged its impact on the health and quality of life of the citizens, adding that it has the primary objective of screening over 200,000 Plateau residents for hypertension and diabetes and the secondary objective of collecting data on the prevalence of non-communicable diseases to better the state health policy and planning, among others.
Speaking earlier was the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Cletus Bako Shurkuk, who said the Project 10 Million is a national project with the theme: “KNOW YOUR NUMBER, CONTROL YOUR NUMBER”, saying it is aimed at screening 10 million Nigerians for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, which marks a significant step in the fight against non-communicable Diseases.
According to him, the project aims to provide immediate counselling and referral, link newly diagnosed patients to treatment facilities, increase public awareness about hypertension and diabetes, and improve data collection.
Shurkuk explained that selected primary and secondary healthcare facilities would screen 200,000 people across the seventeen local government areas.
He appreciated Barr. Helen Caleb Mutfwang for accepting to flag off the program and also serve as an ambassador. He called on people to take the screening exercises to learn about their blood pressure and sugar levels.
In a closing remark, the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Mr Gayi Timothy Gayi, appreciated Barr. Helen Caleb Mutfwang, the government, and development partners, among others, for gracing the occasion, urging the people to avail themselves to know their health status.
The high point of the event was the decoration of the First Lady as an ambassador of the project and her screening to determine her blood pressure level.