…holds 27th Annual General Meeting
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ekiti State Branch, has emphasized the importance of regular medical screening and healthy lifestyle to prevent sudden deaths.
This call was made during the association’s 27th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, held virtually, with the theme “The Burden of Sudden Deaths Among the Young: What Needs to be Learned and Unlearned.
Speaking on the ‘Cardiovascular Causes of Sudden Death and it’s Management’, a Consultant Cardiologist, Dr. Bolade Dele-Ojo, who decried the unexpected deaths among individuals under the age of 35, attributed it to undiagnosed heart conditions and other causes.
She encouraged Nigerians to always seek medical attention to reduce the risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol.
Dr. Dele-Ojo, who doubles as the Head, Department of Community Medicine, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital urged government at all levels to increase funding to the health sector.
Her words: “When we say sudden death to the young, this refers to unexpected death in individuals typically under the age of 35, previously due to undiagnosed heart conditions and some causes have been identified, especially cardiac causes, corollary recidivism.
“In layman’s language, it means blockage of the coroally arteries. Coroally arteries are the pipe that supplies the heart oxygen and other nutrients. When these are blocked, patients start having chest pains. These are the commonest cause of cardiac arrest. The risk factors are chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol.
“We want to encourage everyone to carry out regular screening, know your blood pressure, know your blood sugar level and blood cholesterol.
“Also, prevention is better than cure. It is better that we start leaving healthy lifestyle, avoid habits and unhealthy diets such as smoking, stop alcohol intake and take a lot of fruits and vegetables everyday. We must engage in regular physical exercise at least five times in a week and make sure you consult your doctors.
“We want to thank Ekiti State Governor for investing in the health sector but it can be more. We want to tell government at all levels to increase funding to the health sector. We want to encourage government at all levels to improve training and retention of healthcare professionals.
“We need to avoid brain drain. Government needs to enhance health technology to provide state-of-the-art equipments that could save lives in our hospitals.
‘There is need to expand access to healthcare services, promote research and development. Government should encourage researchers at all levels and promote research development. There is also need to strengthen community engagement and support.”
The virtual Scientific Conference also witnessed presentations by Experts in the medical field on the main theme including; “Risk Factors Epidemiology”, “Basic Life Support”, “Pathologist Perspectives.”
The presentation on the sub theme: “Assault on Health Workers: A Menace That Must End” was done by the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, C.P Akinwale Adeniran.
