By Joseph Erunke, ABUJA

The Federal Capital Territory Administration in partnership with a health tech company, MedTech Africa, has launched a Cardiovascular Wellness Curriculum Development Programme in primary and secondary schools in the nation’s capital city.

MedTech African is a Nigeria  healthtech company, focused on addressing cardiovascular  health  issues.

The programme, tagged:” Play4Health Project”, aims to elevate awareness of cardiovascular health and foster cultivation of healthy habits among students in Nigerian primary and secondary schools.

It is being carried out with the offices of the Mandate Secretaries of Health and Education of the FCT.

The Chief Executive Officer,CEO of MedTech Africa, Nelson Igbiriki, in his welcome address at the event held at Army Day School, Abuja, explained that with increasing westernization,there has been a corresponding rise in the incidence of disease such as hypertension and diabetes in adults, informing that children are not left out.

Noting that studies have shown that children and adolescents with cardiovascular risk factors are more likely to develop hypertension, diabetes among other diseases when they become adults, Igbiriki explained that the goal of his organisation was to aspire to enhance the overall well-being and long-term health outcomes of Nigerian students by addressing cardiovascular health and key lifestyle factors.

According to him,the target of the organisation is to reach 50,000 students between 5 and 17 years in Abuja,FCT across 100 schools,both public and private.

He said:”We can’t really boast of a healthy population if we don’t give them (children) the information that they need.

“Forcadio Play4Health Project  focuses on nutrition or cardiovascular health and also physical exercise. But there are two key areas,one is to education children in primary and secondary schools from age five to 17,to be able to have information about hypertension, diabetes which you hear in the news and the popular one,heart attack.

“Most of you don’t know what it is and how can we prevent it. Most of our parents at home have them and we don’t know how to help them. These are the information gaps that are not in our school system and that is what we seek to address here.

“We don’t want a situation where we just start treatment but want to have the information on time. Our children here will be screened, for instance if you have the risk factor. We want to tackle it from the early stage, you and your parents will be recommended to a cardiologist or a nutritionist to help you recover better.And also,it can be recommended for the family of the children in schools.

“The project is for you children, it’s focused on you and you are the reason why we are here. Without you,there is no Play4Health Project. I want you to take it very serious because the information will help your nutrition. There are many medical doctors here.”

The Chief Medical Advisor, MedTech Africa, Major General (Rtd) Dr. Life Ajemba, explained at the event that,”The Cardiovascular Wellness Program we are launching today is an education and an exercise program directed primarily to students in the primary and secondary schools in order to prevent cardiovascular disease or detect those at risk and ensure treatment for those with cardiovascular disease..”

He said:”This will be done by the schoolteachers after they  have been trained by a team of highly trained Health personnel through reinforcing behaviors of exercise, stress management, hygiene and sound nutrition that develop and maintain a heart healthy lifestyle.

“The cardiovascular system relates to your heart and the blood vessels that move blood around your body. The blood pumped through your heart supplies vital oxygen and nutrients throughout your body. Leading a healthy lifestyle is important for your heart health.

“This includes maintaining a basic hygiene, healthy diet and exercising. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term that describes a disease of the heart or blood vessels. Blood flow to the heart, brain or body can be reduced because of a: blood clot (thrombosis);build-up of fatty deposits inside an artery,leading to the hardening and narrowing of the artery(atherosclerosis).”

According to him,”The aim of this program today is to formally launch the teaching and practice of cardiovascular wellness in the schools in order to detect early, treat and prevent the consequences of cardiovascular disease among the children and youths in primary and secondary clschools..

Describing the MedTech Africa as a Nigerian  Healthtech Company,focused on addressing cardiovascular  health  issues, General Ajemba explained that the company aimed to

 implement a groundbreaking project that  promotes cardiovascular  health  and  healthy  habits  in  Nigerian  primary  and  secondary  schools,  targeting  320  schools, with  the   aim  of screening  and  educating  120,000  students aged between 5 and 17 years.

” For FCT, we intend to visit 100 schools and screen 50,000 children. The Mission will be accomplished through these lines of activities which include enhancing Health Education by developing a comprehensive health education curriculum covering key topics such as nutrition, hygiene practices, cardiovascular health, and lifestyle management; promoting physical activities by encouraging regular physical activities among school children by integrating exercise and sports into the school schedule and conducting  screenings   and    health assessments by establishing   a system  for early detection of cardiovascular/metabolic complications such as malnutritional diseases (obesity, kwashiorkor), hypertension, high cholesterol level among others.

“This shall be done through health talks, measurement of BP, height, weight, waist circumferences, BMI. For those who are detected to have high blood pressure or are obese will then undergo further tests and blood for sugar and cholesterol.

“Capacity building for teachers through provision of specialized health training for teachers led by specially trained health personnel to deliver health education, conduct screenings, and promote healthy eating, hygiene, physical activity, and lifestyle management;Technology Integration by leveraging mobile and web solutions to streamline data collection, monitoring, and reporting processes with data shared with the Ministry of Health.”

Speaking also,the FCT Mandate Secretary of Education ,Dr Danlami Hayyo, represented by Johnson Solomon, Deputy Director,in charge of School Health, described the programme being anchored by MedTech Africa as “very important.”

“IIt will widen or broaden our knowledge on the issue of cardiovascular health. It is important that while dealing with this,we should look at the nutrition  and physical aspects of our daily life in order to enhance our health,”he said.

He, however, advised the organisers that before they delve “into the health of any child,there is need to seek the consent of the parents.”

Also speaking,Dr Adedolapo Fasawe ,the Mandate Secretary of Health Services and Environment Secretariat, described the programme as important.

Speaking through her representative and Director of Medical and Diagnosis, Health Services and Environment Secretariat of FCT,

Dr Ahmadu Abubarkar, she noted that:”Our hearts are the engines of our bodies pumping life-giving blood to every cell,organ and tissue”, adding that ” just like anny engine,they need care and maintenance to function at their best.”

“Today,we come together with shared hope to instill healthy information in our children that will last in a life time, through education, activities and nutrition.

“We aim to inspire our young ones to make smart choices for their health.Through this programme,we will explore the power of nutrition,the joy of physical activities and the strategies to promote our health and wellbeing.

“I wish to assure you that the Health Services and Environment Secretariat will work with you to see the success of this programme,”she said.