A U.S.-based cardiologist, Dr Sabu George, on Monday said that most cardiovascular-related diseases could be controlled, if detected at the early stage.
George spoke in Lagos during a free health screening organised by the management of Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area in Lagos State.
The exercise, which began on August 15, would end on August 17.
It will cover screening and treatment of people found with cardiovascular diseases and other health ailments.
Cardiovascular diseases are a general term to describe diseases of the heart or blood vessels.
George said, “Cardiovascular diseases are a silent killer, and if not detected at the early stages, the sufferer is at high risk and can lead to sudden death.
“It is more expensive to treat the ailment and cheaper to prevent it by maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, checking cholesterol, avoiding too much of carbohydrates and sugar.
“We can avoid cardiovascular diseases by eating less of carbohydrates, but more of vegetables and drinking more water than fizzy drinks.
“We will ensure that any person detected to have such ailment will be given proper care by providing free treatment and there will be regular consultations, to monitor the patients,’’ George said.
Also speaking, Mr Olumide Olayomi, the council’s Sole Administrator, said that the free health screening was aimed at helping the sufferers of heart-related diseases and other ailments.
Olayomi said that the programme was initiated to encourage the residents to know their health status.
“The purpose of this year’s programme organised by the council and the National Sports Lottery Foundation is to help people in the community to know their health status and to also receive adequate treatment.
“The health of people in the community is critical to the progress of this local council development area, because it will boost our economy because healthy people are always productive,” he said.
Olayomi said that many people were expected to benefit from the exercise, after which any critical health issues would be referred to the general hospitals and teaching hospitals, for further treatment.
He said, “The major aspect of this exercise is the dedication to capacity building development.
“The expert will teach our doctors and nurses on the basic cardiovascular health issues.’’
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Ike Akinsola, said that she heard about the screening two weeks ago.
According to her, I came very early to secure an appointment and get free treatment.
“I want to appeal to the council’s sole administrator to extend the duration of the treatment.
“This will enable many people to be treated because of the large number of people that will be coming for the screening,’’ Akinsola said.
Another beneficiary, Alhaji Wasiu Oseni, said that he was happy to be given such opportunity to know his health status, for free.
“It is a good decision by the sole administrator to ensure that people in the council area enjoy free health service.
“Many of us don’t even know that we need to go for medical checkups regularly,’’ Oseni added.
