Jonathan, Sambo undergo stroke, heart attack tests

In response to the rate of sudden death in the country, the Federal Government has flagged off the National Stroke Prevention Programme (NSPP).Midway into yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, President Goodluck Jonathan, in company of his cabinet members, stepped out of the Council Chambers to flag off the programme at the forecourt of the […]

In response to the rate of sudden death in the country, the Federal Government has flagged off the National Stroke Prevention Programme (NSPP).
Midway into yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, President Goodluck Jonathan, in company of his cabinet members, stepped out of the Council Chambers to flag off the programme at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Jonathan and Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo separately subjected themselves to medical tests that lasted for about 30 minutes in a mobile clinic brought to the State House.
The tests, mainly aimed at discovering susceptibility to stroke and heart-related ailments, were conducted by a team of medical consultants from the National Hospital.
Our correspondent reports that the results of the tests were not made known.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the FEC meeting, Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu said all FEC members would equally undergo similar tests to be sure that they are not at any risk of stroke or heart-related diseases.
According to the minister, the government is concerned about the spate of sudden death among Nigerians in their prime age caused by stroke and heart attacks caused by preventable things like smoking, diabetes, among others.
He said FEC members would pay N50,000 for the tests, while it would be subsidised for ordinary Nigerians at N10,000.
Chukwu said the programme would be managed by his ministry, in collaboration with Federal Teaching Hospitals and other teaching hospitals in the country, noting that sudden death is chiefly caused by stroke and heart attack.
The minister, who said sudden death could be prevented through constant medical check-ups, added that Jonathan had urged all Nigerians to go for medical check-up; and his cabinet members to do regular exercise instead of sitting in their offices.