A study conducted by Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals, through its Fight the Good Fight Against Hypertension (FITGAH) has revealed that 36 per cent of Kirikiri prisoners are hypertensive.
The Chief Executive Officer of Neimeth, Mr. Emmanuel Ekunno, who stated this during a media chat with Thisday Newspaper said the study was carried out in Kirikiri prison, among other places across the country in order to ascertain how many Nigerians that are hypertensive, as well as understand why some certain groups of persons were more or less hypertensive than others.
According to him, “When FITGAH went to Kirikiri prison to screen them, we discovered that out of the 69 inmates screened, 25 were hypertensive, that is 36 per cent of the number. This goes to show that hypertension does not look at faces or where you stay.
“One would wonder why prisoners were hypertensive when they are being given free food, not bothered by what to eat or wear, not under pressure to make money, among others.
He, however said the high percentage of hypertension experienced might be due to several factors including the worry about lack of freedom, the environmental condition of the place, types of food, among other unhealthy practices which are unfavourable to the body.
He also noted that the same study was carried out in the Institute of Directors Nigeria, Ikoyi, and they were shocked that over 45 per cent of those tested where hypertensive, a report that suggests that hypertension does not know whether one is a director or a poor man, adding that every Nigerian must be cautious of their health status, especially their blood pressure level.
“Of the 40 persons screened, 18 were hypertensive, which is 45 per cent,” he added.
Other places where the study was carried out include, Agege Local Government Area, where 93 persons were screened and 25 were hypertensive, that is 26.9 per cent. Among 214 persons screened in FITGAH free screening clinic, 148 persons were hypertensive, amounting to 69.2 per cent.
The study also showed that in Etuku community in Enugu State, 183 persons were screened and 74 persons were hypertensive, which is 40.4 per cent. In Arepo community in Ogun State, 133 people were screened, while 32 person s were hypertensive, which is 24 per cent.
According to Ekunno, this study suggests that a lot of Nigerians are hypertensive, even though they may not know.
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