World Hypertension Day: Anambra offers residents free medical checks

The Anambra State Government, through the State Ministry of Health, will be offering free hypertension checks in primary healthcare centres and general hospitals across the state, as part of activities to commemorate the 2026 World Hypertension Day.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, disclosed this during a press briefing held in Awka, on Tuesday.

Obidike said the commemoration provides them with another opportunity to raise awareness about hypertension, which is one of the deadliest non-communicable diseases in the society.

He spoke on the theme of this year’s event, tagged, ‘Controlling Hypertension together, check your blood pressure regularly and defeat the silent killer’, describing hypertension as the main cause of cardiovascular disease, with about one billion people are living with it globally.

According to the commissioner, the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, has identified the disease as a health threat, and the ministry of health is currently carrying out an aggressive campaign against the disease.

He explained that the current administration has introduced the “Solution Know Your Number” to checkmate hypertension.

He said, “We have mapped out a proactive measure for adequate sensitisation of Ndi Anambra to access medications they need for effective management and treatment of BP.

“The checks are free of charge for every resident irrespective of tribe, ethnic and religion affiliations and the gesture is currently ongoing across the state-owned hospitals, including Chukwuemeka Odumegewu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Amaku-Awka and the General Hospital Enugwukwu.

“What we are doing is in line with what the governor’s wife, Dr Nonye Soludo is consistently advocating with her NGO, ‘Healthy Living With Nonye Soludo’ in the state.

“We urged the people to be checking their BP on weekly basis, eat diet meals, exercise and reduce excessive consumption of alcohol to avoid sudden death.”

The commissioner commended the World Health Organisation and the Population Services International, for their support, while noting that untreated hypertension could lead to kidney disease and stroke.

He thanked Soludo for making health sector major priority of his administration.

Also speaking, the State Non-Communicable Disease Coordinator, Mrs Adaku Ego, said they have mapped out many events to commemorate the day, including free screening and treatment that commenced on May 17 and ended on May 19, 2026 and road sensitization shows educating the public on hypertension.

Representatives from WHO, PSI and the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency were also present during the briefing.

Every year on May 17, the world pauses to draw attention to one of the most prevalent yet underdiagnosed health conditions affecting humanity, hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure.

World Hypertension Day was initiated by the World Hypertension League, an umbrella body representing 85 national hypertension societies and leagues across the globe.

The day was established with a singular purpose: to increase public awareness of hypertension, its causes, consequences and the urgent need for prevention, detection and control