Gammun Sensitises Gyadi Gyadi Community as Kano Steps Up Fight Against Hypertension.
By Aishat J.Ahmad
Gammun Centre for Care Development Nigeria has conducted an advocacy and sensitization visit to Gyadi Gyadi Babban Layi community in Kano State as part of ongoing efforts to support the state government’s drive to reduce the burden of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to the minimum level.
The visit, which involved monitoring interactions with hypertension support groups, was aimed at educating community members on prevention, early detection, treatment and control of hypertension, in line with Kano State’s NCD response strategy.
Speaking during the engagement, the Programme Officer of Gammun Centre for Care Development, Hajiya Fatahiya Ali Lawal, said the initiative complements the efforts of the Kano State Government in strengthening the NCD unit and expanding awareness on hypertension across communities.
She noted that Kano State has taken steps to address hypertension through policy direction, community outreach and integration of NCD services at primary healthcare level.
“The state government, through the NCD unit, is making efforts to reduce hypertension to the minimum level. Our advocacy visit is to support these efforts by taking the message directly to the communities,” she said.
Hajiya Fatahiya, however, called for the timely release of funds allocated to the NCD unit, explaining that adequate funding would further improve awareness campaigns, drug availability monitoring and community-based interventions.
“With sustained funding, the NCD unit will be better positioned to scale up sensitisation and prevention activities across the state,” she added.
Representing the Kano State NCD Coordinator, Dr. Abubakar Hamza Ahmad, Dr. Bashir Yusuf Musa said the state has prioritised non-communicable diseases by integrating hypertension services into routine healthcare delivery and expanding community engagement.
According to him, these measures are already contributing to improved awareness and early care-seeking behaviour among residents.
He emphasised the importance of partnerships with civil society organisations such as Gammun Centre for Care Development to deepen community ownership of hypertension prevention.
Discussions during the sensitization visit focused on lifestyle modification, dangers of uncontrolled blood pressure and the risks associated with excessive use of traditional medicine.
Participants also acknowledged government interventions such as enrolment of vulnerable persons under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and increased access to hypertension screening at primary healthcare centres.
In his remarks, the Ward Head of Gyadi Gyadi Babban Layi commended the Kano State Government for prioritising public health and appreciated the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sunusu the 2nd, for supporting traditional communities through health-related interventions
Pulse Time Nigeria reports, that the Meeting held in Gyadi Gyadi Babban layi Gidan liman Kano state which brought together Different stackhodels including representative of ministry of health, Finance, media and Association of people living with hypertension among others.