As part of efforts to fighting hypertension in Nigeria, the Federal Government has decided to look inward by working closely with local private drug manufacturers to make anti-hypertensive drugs available and affordable to Nigerians.
About 4.5 million Nigerians over the age of 15 are said to be hypertensive
The Federal Ministry of Health said that the approach under an innovative programme called FITGAH (Fight the Good Fight against Hypertension) was in line with the National Drug Policy (NDP) and Essential Medicines list (EML) policy.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Linus Awute at a presentation in Abuja, stated that Health Ministry was poised to support the laudable initiative as championed by Neimeth to ensure good health care delivery to Nigerians.
He described the initiative as unique judging from its four-pronged strategy of: awareness creation, availability of anti-hypertensive drugs, affordability of anti-hypertensive medicines and action, which involves screening and administration of medicines.
He further pledged to continue to partner with Neimeth because of the positive role played by the company during the Ebola scourge.
In his welcome address, Director, Department of Food and Drugs Services, Mrs. G. M. O. Chukumah, informed that about 4.5 million Nigerians over the age of 15 are hypertensive adding that its prevalence was much in urban than rural communities.
She also reaffirmed that Neimeth’s intervention was to make drugs accessible, safe, qualitative and affordable to Nigerians.
The MD/CEO Neimeth international pharmaceuticals plc, Pharmacist Ekunno Emmanuel said that the company decided to cut down 50% on the price of its anti- hypertensive drugs so as to make them affordable to the good people of Abuja in particular and Nigerians in general.
He also announced that to ensure availability of its anti-hypertensive drugs and other family medicines, Neimeth was engaging in the free screening for hypertension and giving medications free for 2 months usage.
By Pita Ochai
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