A Nigerian pharmaceutical company, Neimeth international pharmaceuticals plc, plans to conduct free hypertension screening for residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The exercise will also include distribution of free medication for those diagnosed with hypertension. The initiative will last two months.
Neimeth MD/CEO Pharmacist Emmanuel Ekunno announced the take-off of the initiative in Abuja recently at the launch of FITGAH (Fight the Good Fight against Hypertension), a new project introduced by the company in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health.
Ekunno also announced that the company would slash the cost of its antihypertensive drugs by 50% to make the drugs more affordable to Abuja residents and other Nigerians in general.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Linus Awute, commended the company for the initiative and announced the ministry’s decision to partner with the company, saying the initiative is in line with Nigeria’s National Drug Policy (NDP) and Essential Medicines list (EML).
“This partnership is under an innovative programme called FITGAH (Fight the Good Fight against Hypertension). It is 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 said.
He further pledged to continue to partner with Neimeth because of the positive role played by the company during the Ebola scourge.
Welcoming guest to the occasion, the 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 is much in urban than rural communities. She told guests that Neimeth’s intervention would make drugs for hypertension more accessible, safe, qualitative and affordable to Nigerians.
