In a significant move to address the rising incidence of deaths from two of the most prevalent Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Hypertension and Diabetes, Ogun State government is set to unveil "Project 10 Million: Know Your Number, Control Your Number", as part of a national health campaign that aims to screen 10 million Nigerians for these diseases, where 350,000 residents across its 20 Local Government Areas would be screened.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen in Abeokuta, saying the initiative was in line with "Project 10 Million: Know Your Number, Control Your Number", initiated by Nigeria Health Commissioners’ Forum and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), endorsed by the Nigeria Governors Forum.

 Dr. Coker disclosed that the initiative would run from October 28 to November 3, 2024.  said the project was not only about screening, but to save lives through preventative care, while also enhancing data collection to inform health policies, as well as support the creation of hypertension and diabetes registers in the state and across Nigeria.

"We are targeting 350,000 Ogun residents, especially the under-served and vulnerable, hence the screening is totally free", she said.

Dr. Coker further highlighted the key objectives of the programme, including providing immediate counseling and referrals for individuals with sub-optimal results, linking newly detected cases to treatment facilities, as well as increasing public awareness about the risks and management of hypertension and diabetes among others.

She informed that the project aligns with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP) compact signed by the governors with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reflecting the shared commitment to improving health outcomes for all Nigerians.

The Commissioner underscored the need for urgent and comprehensive intervention for non-communicable diseases such as, hypertension and diabetes, saying they significantly contribute to approximately 27 percentage of all annual deaths in Nigeria, while the risks of dying from these conditions between the ages of 30 and 70 years was estimated at 17 percent.  

"In Ogun State, we won't stop at screening a significant number of residents, but we'll provide immediate counselling and referrals for individuals with sub-optimal results and most importantly, link newly detected cases to treatment facilities for ongoing care", she said.

While urging all citizens aged 18 and above to take advantage of the opportunity to get screened, the Commissioner assured that free screening would be accessible at all primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities, as well as churches, mosques, parks and markets across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.