A women’s empowerment group has taken free blood pressure checks, drugs and other care to residents of Enugu North. The Domitila Foundation for Women Empowerment says it wants to cut deaths from high blood pressure that go unnoticed until it is too late.
Why the Foundation Acted
The outreach took place at the weekend at Urban Girls Secondary School, Nsukka. Elderly people, women and low-income earners filled the venue. Many of them cannot pay for regular check-ups.
The foundation’s founder and chief executive, Miss Chidimma Domitila Ozioko, said she was troubled by the number of people dying from hypertension that nobody had detected or treated.
She also raised a cultural concern. According to her, sudden deaths are often blamed on witchcraft or voodoo. Yet many of them result from basic conditions that were ignored.
“High blood pressure is a silent killer,” she said. Many people live with it without knowing, she added. Some collapse and die in markets, schools and other public places.
What Was Given Out
The foundation gave out 1,000 blood pressure monitors, along with drugs and other medical items. Ozioko also listed these services, all free:
- Blood sugar tests
- Consultations with cardiologists
- Eye and vision care
- Dental services
- Nutrition and diet counselling
- Health education
In addition, 100 indigent schoolgirls received sanitary pads meant to last six months.
Beneficiaries Speak
Mrs Onah Eberechukwu, from Ihenowerre in Nsukka, said she had never seen such an outreach in the area. She left with a monitor, drugs and other services.
Mrs Ojobo Amuche travelled from Enugu-Ezike in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area after seeing the event on social media. She had suffered a severe toothache. Her tooth was removed free, and she also got drugs and a monitor. She said she would now check her own blood pressure and her neighbours’.
Miss Ugwuja Ogochukwu, from Nru in Nsukka, said her dental treatment gave her new confidence to smile. Her younger sister also received care.
Advice From Health Experts
Medical experts at the event urged residents to change certain habits. Their advice included:
- Eat less salt
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid heavy drinking and smoking
- Manage stress
- Go for regular check-ups
What Comes Next
Ozioko thanked the partners and volunteers who made the event possible. She said the foundation plans to take the programme to other parts of Enugu State.
