Health
World Hypertension Day: LASUTH Cardiologists Advocates Regular BP Check Despite COVID-19

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Cardiologists at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) have encouraged residents of Lagos to constantly check their blood pressure despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
This advice is in commemoration of the 2020 World Hypertension Day tagged Know Your Numbers. This annual event is aimed at educating the public and increasing awareness of hypertension and its effects when it is not quickly diagnosed.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, has been termed “a silent killer” and a “global public health issue” because most affected individual show no symptoms. It is also said that hypertension is the “most important preventable cause of heart disease and stroke worldwide”.
Speaking about this day, Dr Folasade Adeola Daniel, a Consultant Physician and Cardiologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH); and a Senior Lecturer with the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), laid emphasis on the importance of this year’s theme.
Dr Daniel said the importance of knowing one’s systolic (the top number or highest blood pressure when the heart is squeezing and pushing the blood round the body) and diastolic (the bottom number or lowest blood pressure between heart beats) blood pressure is to help everyone become aware of their health status, if they are hypertensive of not. “If you know your blood pressure then you could tell when it is abnormal: higher or lower and then appropriate medical attention could be quickly sought.”
She further said that, the awareness of this can help people modify their lifestyle to correct the elevated blood pressure if that be the case; “people would know if his or her blood pressure is at the target for those who need to be on treatment for hypertension”. She emphasized that, “It’s also better one knows his or her actual blood pressure reading whenever it’s done rather than accept a normal verdict from whoever is doing it.”
Though the COVID-19 Pandemic has hampered several activities that have been put in place to celebrate the day both locally and internationally, Dr. Daniel pointed out that the May Measurement Month will still be encouraged to happen albeit on a smaller scale.
Also, Dr. Adeola Ajibare, a consultant physician and Cardiologist at LASUTH and Lecturer at LASUCOM, said the World Hypertension League (WHL) has encouraged people to get involved in May Measurement Month (MMM); which implies that the whole month of May has been dedicated to measurement of the blood pressure of the populace.
He pointed out that LASUTH “has been observing the MMM initiative from its inception, 3 years ago. “We organise screenings for people in the neighbouring communities like the computer village and Police College.”
Despite the social distancing restrictions that has led to a drastic reduction in the contact we should have with patients. However, the home blood pressure monitor is recognised as a tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of elevated blood pressure.
“We are still able to offer consultations through telephone and other social media platforms; we will still continue to motivate the populace to check, know and control their numbers whenever we find ourselves either in the media or through our website, Dr. Ajibare said on an optimistic note.
To stay healthy, WHO recommends healthy diet, no alcohol, physical activity, no tobacco and stress management as steps to minimize the odds of developing high blood pressure and its adverse consequences.
Health
AXA’s Mind Health Report Highlights Importance of Workplace Wellness

Nigeria’s leading insurance company, AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, has announced the release of the AXA Mind Health Report 2025. This comprehensive study underscores the critical importance of mental health in the workplace and among young people.
According to Omowunmi Mabel Adewusi, General Counsel and Human Resource Director of AXA Mansard, the Mind Health Report is part of AXA’s ongoing commitment to promoting positive mental well-being and reducing stigma through holistic approaches.
She said, “The state of mind health in the world continues to give cause for concern, with a lot of people currently experiencing a mental health condition. This fifth edition of the report shows a worrying trend among our youth.
“We also observe an interesting trend in the workplace that reveals work impacts employees’ mental health either as a source of support or a source of issues.”
The AXA Mind Health Report 2025 reveals significant insights into the mental health landscape, highlighting the challenges that young adults and employees face.
According to the report, 44% of young adults (18-24) currently suffer from mental health conditions, with excessive use of social media and financial instability being major contributing factors.
Additionally, work-related stress, including excessive workload, tight deadlines, and a lack of work-life balance, remains a significant concern for employees.
Adewusi further emphasized the importance of prioritizing mental health in the workplace, explaining that mental health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being. Organizations must implement policies that support their employees.
“For us at AXA, this realization is at the heart of our We Care Programme, which affords our employees benefits such as flexible working hours, access to professional counselling services, monthly health workshops, a supportive work environment, menstrual, extended paternity, and caregiver leave benefits.
“The findings of the AXA Mind Health Report 2025 highlight the urgent need for proactive measures to address mental health issues in the workplace and among the youth. We are calling on business leaders, government agencies, and other stakeholders to foster a wellness culture that promotes positive mental health and supports individuals in reaching their full potential.”
The 2025 study, conducted in collaboration with IPSOS, aims to identify mental health and wellness issues in global society to build solutions to mitigate them. A total of 17,000 respondents from 16 countries participated in the survey.
Health
Oyo Raises Entry Grade Level for University Graduate Nurses to 10

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The entry grade level for nurses in the Oyo State civil service with university degree has been reviewed, the Provost of the Oyo State College of Nursing Sciences, Ibadan, Dr Gbonjubola Owolabi, has revealed.
The review was done by the state government through the Oyo State Civil Service Commission.
Recall that the National Council of Establishment (NCE) at its 43rd meeting in 2022 approved the placement of university graduate nurses on grade level 10.
At a meeting with 21 Nursing Tutors on Wednesday in Ibadan, Dr Owolabi said the state government has moved the category of nurses from grade 8, charging nursing tutors of the institution to be diligent in their duties and imbibe integrity and quality.
“The institution is out to train nursing and health practitioners and churn out quality manpower who can function effectively in community, primary, secondary, tertiary, and industrial health settings.
“I urge you to key into this vision, even as the present administration will not deprive you of your rights,” the provost stated.
Dr Owolabi, who said that the Oyo State government placed priority on integrity and quality, disclosed that “the institution has received necessary accreditations from the regulatory bodies for some courses.”
She lauded Governor Seyi Makinde for approving the promotion of the 21 tutors, saying such a gesture should be reciprocated with dedication to service.
In her vote of thanks, one of the lecturers, Mrs Abiola Elizabeth, lauded the management of the institution, saying the approval from the civil service had further accentuated the priority placed on the health sector by Oyo State government.
Health
Burundi Introduces Malaria Vaccine Into Routine Immunization Programme

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The government of Burundi has taken a critical step towards reducing malaria cases and saving thousands of children’s lives with the introduction of the malaria vaccine into its routine immunization programme.
This followed the arrival of 544,000 doses of malaria vaccines in Burundi in January and the approval of the RTS,S malaria vaccine by ABREMA (Autorité Burundaise de Régulation des Médicaments à usage humain et des Aliments).
The inclusion of the vaccine was made possible with the collaborations of the Ministry of Health, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and Dalberg.
At a ceremony on Monday to announce this development, the First Lady of Burundi, Mrs Angeline Ndayishimiye, commended the organisations for supporting her husband’s government to fight malaria in the country.
Malaria remains a major public health concern in Burundi and one of the country’s top health priorities. Malaria is endemic, with two annual peaks (April-May and June) resulting in high transmission levels in some districts.
The latest data from the National Health Information System (SNIS) showed that malaria remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, with an incidence of 399.1 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2023.
Data analysis revealed that malaria accounted for 20.9 per cent of consultations in 2023 and 59.4 per cent of hospital deaths in 2021.
In Burundi, children under the age of five are the population category most vulnerable to malaria. Of the 4,857,556 malaria cases reported in 2023, children under five accounted for 2,235,481 cases, representing 46 per cent of malaria morbidity.
For this reason, as a key partner, UNICEF is committed to ensuring that every child, especially the most vulnerable, has access to this critical vaccine, alongside other essential health services, to give them a healthier start in life.
“Today marks a significant milestone as we introduce the malaria vaccine in Burundi. This initiative reflects our strong and unwavering commitment to malaria control by combining high-impact strategic interventions and our collective determination to protect our children’s lives.
“By focusing on reducing malaria mortality in children under five, we are taking a critical step towards ensuring a healthier and brighter future for the next generation. This vaccine introduction also brings us closer to a future where no child is lost to this preventable disease. We are paving the way for a malaria-free Burundi,” said Dr Lydwine Baradahana, Minister of Public Health and AIDS Prevention.
“Today, Burundi joins the list of 17 other countries on the African continent to have introduced malaria vaccine into routine immunization with Gavi support.
“Given the devastating impact of malaria, this is a development that will save thousands of young lives, offer relief to families and lessen the burden currently placed on the country’s health system,” the Senior Country Manager for Burundi at Gavi, Mario Jimenez, stated.
UNICEF Representative in Burundi, France Bégin, said, “Every child has the right to grow up healthy and protected from preventable diseases like malaria. The introduction of the malaria vaccine is a historic step, bringing new hope to families in Burundi.”
WHO representative in Burundi, Dr Xavier Crespin, remarked that, “Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Burundi, especially among children.
“With the measures already taken by the government such as Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine chemoprevention, the distribution of impregnated mosquito nets and indoor spraying, and now the introduction of malaria vaccination in children aged 6 to 18 months as recommended by the WHO,
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