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The government said it was subsidising some health checks for Nigerians.
As part of plans to check the alarming rate of sudden death and related health challenges in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan has launched a Nigerian National Stroke Prevention Programme.
The launch took place immediately after the weekly meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation, FEC, on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Mr. Jonathan, the programme was inevitable as a result of the disturbing rate of sudden deaths and stroke in the country.
The launch was highlighted by a special health check on the President and Vice President Namadi Sambo inside a mobile ambulance at the fore-court of the Presidential Villa.
Briefing journalists after the exercise, the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the programme was approved by the president as an antidote to sudden death.
Mr. Chukwu said that the government was worried about the recent alarming rate of sudden deaths of Nigerians, whom he noted are mostly in their prime. The programme is expected to encourage people to check their health status regularly.
The minister further disclosed that the cost of the test, which is about N50, 000, has been reduced by the government through a subsidized arrangement to now cost N10, 000; particularly for indigent Nigerians.
“The health awareness programme is to help Nigerians to check up on their health on regular basis to take fitness seriously and take close attention to their life styles.
“Apart from in-born pre-conditions, the main causes of stroke and heart-attack are things that can be prevented like hypertension, diabetes, lack of exercise, excessive consumption of alcohol and smoking and so on.
“The President felt something needed to be done on a national scale. So the President and the Vice President demonstrated leadership by example by allowing themselves to go through the same process.
“They were seen by consultants who carried out some tests on them such as body mass index, measurement of height and weight, blood pressure.
“The President approved of the programmed to be managed by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Federal Teaching Hospitals and other hospital in Nigeria; as well as the Nigeria in Diaspora to execute the programme,’’ he said.
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