An Abuja-based medical practitioner, Dr. Ikechukwu Orji, has revealed that 30 per cent of residents screened in the Kaba community of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were found to be hypertensive.
Orji, who heads the Primary Health Care Department in Kwali Area Council, made the disclosure during a free medical outreach he led to the community on Wednesday.
He added that preliminary screenings also showed that 10 per cent of participants had abnormal blood sugar levels, indicating possible diabetes.
Describing the findings as “deeply concerning,” Orji said the diabetes rate in Kaba was more than three times the national average of three per cent.
“The Kaba results follow a trend of high disease burden recorded in other FCT communities over the past six weeks, including Gariki Primary Health Care Centre, where 47 per cent were hypertensive and 10 per cent diabetic, and Kagini PHC, where 40 per cent were hypertensive and 14 per cent diabetic,” he said.
He called for urgent action to tackle the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, stressing the need to implement the Federal Government’s Task-Shifting and Task-Sharing (TSTS) policy to improve healthcare access in rural areas.
“The task-shifting policy allows non-physician healthcare workers to manage uncomplicated cases of hypertension and diabetes under doctors’ supervision.
This helps reduce the burden on hospitals and improves access to care in underserved communities,” he explained.
Orji said the Kaba screening marked the first step in a pilot study to integrate diabetes treatment into primary health centres (PHCs), following the success of a similar hypertension management project across 60 PHCs in the FCT.
“This project is born out of passion — to help the downtrodden and underserved.
We decided to bring the screening closer so that those who cannot travel to Kagini can access care at their doorstep,” he said.
He explained that the growing incidence of non-communicable diseases in PHCs motivated the initiative, which aims to empower community health workers, nurses, and community health officers (CHOs) to treat mild cases of hypertension and diabetes and refer complicated cases early.
Orji noted that individuals diagnosed with diabetes would be enrolled for free initial treatment at Kagini PHC, which serves as a district centre for Kaba residents.
He cited the Abuja Heart Study, which showed that most stroke cases in Nigeria result from uncontrolled hypertension, followed closely by diabetes.
“Uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes can lead to stroke, heart failure, kidney failure, and blindness.
Our goal is to curb these complications that often claim lives in their prime,” he said.
Orji emphasised that the project was a collaborative effort, supported by the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr. Christopher Maikalangu, academic partners, U.S.-based health providers, local volunteers, and traditional leaders.
“The project aligns with Maikalangu’s campaign promise to improve healthcare access for rural communities,” he added.
Residents of Kaba commended the organisers for the initiative.
Mrs. Favour Samuel, a beneficiary, said she appreciated the outreach, which allowed her to check her health status.
“I came fasting and did my blood sugar test. I really appreciate their service. This helps create awareness to know your health condition and take better care of yourself,” she said.
Another resident, Mr. Charles Edo, said:
“I was the first person on the list. They told me my test was successful and that I’m okay.”
The Village Head of Kaba, Mr. Yahaya Ibrahim, expressed gratitude for the outreach, describing it as a positive step toward improving the wellbeing of his people.
The exercise was held at the palace of the Kaba chief, with traditional leaders and community members in attendance.
Dr. Orji, a former Chief Medical Officer/Consultant with the AMAC Primary Health Care Department, appreciated the volunteers and health workers who participated.
It will be recalled that the Federal Government introduced the Task-Shifting and Task-Sharing Policy in 2014 to address healthcare worker shortages by redistributing tasks among different cadres of health workers. The policy was updated in 2022.
