Dr Henry Ayuk, the Cross River Commissioner for Health, says the state government will implement Project 10 million because of its importance to public health.
Ayuk said in an interview with journalists on Tuesday in Calabar, that Project 10 Million was an initiative of the Nigerian Health Commissioners’ Forum.
He said that the project which aimed to screen 10 million Nigerians for hypertension and diabetes would be implemented in partnership with professional bodies, developmental agencies, and donors.
The commissioner said that the exercise would take place in Oct. across the 36 states and the FCT.
He said that Dr Ekpo Bassey, the Special Adviser to Gov. Bassey Otu on Health, would coordinate the project in close relationship with the state ministry of health.
On his part, Bassey said that the implementing team had identified seven thematic areas that were critical to the success of the initiative.
“The thematic areas are, stakeholder engagement, health promotion, logistics and supplies, clinical, laboratory and nursing services, monitoring, evaluation, data management and orientation,” he said.
The governor’s aide said that the project would promote early detection, prevention, and control of cardiometabolic diseases, using the slogan: ‘Know your Numbers, Control your Numbers’
He said that it was important for people to know their vital health metrics because it would empower them to take timely actions and make the right health decisions.
“So during the exercise, there will be screening for blood pressure and blood sugar, this is to detect hypertension and diabetes.
“There will also be anthropometric measurements that relates to heart health, blood vessels and general body metabolism processes,” he said.(NAN)
