Health
Association Urges Nigerians To Embrace Preventive Healthcare
By Aderogba George
The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja, has advocated greater investment in preventive healthcare to reduce the burden of non-communicable and other preventable diseases.
The Medical Director of FMC Jabi, Prof. Saad Ahmed, made the call during a medical outreach organised by the hospital’s MDCAN chapter for residents of the Idu and Karimo communities as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Represented by the Deputy Head of Clinical Services, Dr Ben Achusi, Ahmed said the communities were selected because many patients with preventable health conditions were referred to the hospital from the areas.
He identified hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and kidney failure as common but largely preventable conditions requiring sustained public awareness.
According to him, many patients present at the hospital only after their conditions have become severe, underscoring the need for regular health screening and education.
“We are not here only to give drugs or check blood pressure. We are also here to educate people and promote healthy lifestyles.
“Taking healthcare services to communities is important because it helps to detect illnesses early and prevent complications.
“We frequently receive severe cases from these communities, including stroke, uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes, which could have been prevented or managed earlier,” he said.
Ahmed added that the outreach would be sustained and extended to other communities as part of the hospital’s preventive healthcare efforts.
The Chairman of FMC Jabi MDCAN, Dr Nasiru Abdullahi, said the outreach covered screening and treatment for malaria, hypertension, diabetes, typhoid, upper respiratory tract infections, peptic ulcer disease and hepatitis B.
He added that beneficiaries also received eye and dental examinations, antenatal services, ultrasound scans, medical counselling and other healthcare services.
Abdullahi said patients requiring specialised care beyond the outreach would be referred to the hospital for further treatment.
He stressed that health education remained one of the most effective ways of preventing disease and reducing avoidable health complications.
Also speaking, Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee for the 2026 FMC MDCAN Annual General Meeting, Dr Tessy Ahmadu, described preventive healthcare as more effective and less costly than treating diseases after they occur.
She said the outreach was designed not only to provide medical care but also to equip residents with knowledge that would help them maintain healthy lifestyles.
Ahmadu said the association aimed to provide healthcare services to more than 1,500 residents during the outreach.(NAN) www.nannews.ng
Edited by Tosin Kolade
