The free health screening, which took place in the Agbo Ile Faola, Yemetu, Ibadan community, was designed to provide cardiovascular care beyond the hospital and into the community. The exercise, held on October 1, 2026, was part of the activities to commemorate the 2026 World Heart Day. Medical professionals screened participants for various health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and other cardiovascular risk factors.
The screening also included checks for congenital and rheumatic heart diseases in children, as well as vision screening to identify eye problems that could affect pupils' learning. The programme was organised by the Stroke Free Society International in collaboration with the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, and the World Heart Federation. This initiative aimed to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors.
Professor Moshood Adeoye, a cardiologist and one of the organisers, said the programme had a personal meaning for him because the community was where he was born over six decades ago. He noted that returning to the community to provide medical services offered him an opportunity to give back while raising awareness about cardiovascular diseases. Adeoye expressed concern over the increasing cases of stroke among young people, stressing the importance of early detection and intervention.
According to Adeoye, some children already show signs of conditions that could predispose them to cardiovascular diseases later in life, while others may have hypertension or diabetes without knowing it. He emphasised that early detection and intervention are crucial in preventing cardiovascular diseases. The programme also included vision screening for pupils to identify eye problems that could affect their learning.
Dr Olanike Orimolade, a consultant cardiologist at UCH and the University of Ibadan College of Medicine, said the major message of World Heart Day was the need to prevent cardiovascular diseases rather than wait until complications develop. She noted that cardiovascular health was closely linked to conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, which could remain silent for years.
Orimolade urged residents to adopt healthy lifestyles and make regular medical checks part of their routine, particularly for conditions that could develop without noticeable symptoms. She described hypertension as a silent killer that might not produce obvious symptoms until significant damage had occurred. The consultant cardiologist emphasised the importance of prevention in managing cardiovascular diseases.
The programme was welcomed by the community, with the Headmistress of I.M.G. School 2, Mrs Adenike Oyedeji, expressing appreciation to the organisers for bringing the programme to the school and community. She noted that the initiative would help promote the early detection of health conditions among residents and schoolchildren. Over 500 residents and school pupils benefited from the free health screening exercise.
Key points
- The programme screened over 500 residents and school pupils for various health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
- The exercise aimed to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors, as well as provide cardiovascular care beyond the hospital and into the community.
- Medical professionals also screened children for congenital and rheumatic heart diseases, and conducted vision screening to identify eye problems that could affect pupils' learning.
