A medical consultant at the Archbishop JKA Aggey Foundation, Lagos, Oluseyi Kadiri, has said periodic health checks are necessary to avoid preventable deaths.

Ms Kadiri made the observation in an interview with journalists at the end of a two-day medical outreach held by the foundation at Obalende, Lagos.

The outreach ended on Friday.

She said that the results of some of the tests conducted indicated that most Nigerians no longer go for periodic health checks.

“The results of some of the tests conducted revealed that the patients were already in dire need for medical attention while moving about to struggle for their daily business,” she said.

She noted that while it was necessary that people struggle for their daily needs, it is imperative for people to also check their health status.

She added, “It is often advisable for one to periodical check his/her health status as that would make for early treatment and prevent avoidable deaths.’’

Ms Kadiri said that the Archbishop Aggey Foundation attended to more than 760 persons out of which 118 persons were tested for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

She noted that some of the patients with serious health challenges were referred to health facilities for follow-up actions.

“The referral at Sura Primary Health Centre is a demonstration of the commitment of the foundation for proper healthcare to the participants,’’ she said.

Ms Kadiri, who doubles as the Lagos State Coordinator for the Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, said any person diagnosed of HIV should not panic as the era when it was perceived as death sentence was gone.

“They will undergo further tests called based line test to check for the volume of red blood and white blood cells `CD4 count test’ Further diagnosis will be done to ascertain their liver functionality so as to know the volume of the anti-virus in their body, as well as the type of drug regime to administer,’’ she said.

Ms Kadiri said that psychosocial support counselling is usually conducted before disclosure of the status of a patient for effective management.

She said that Aggey Foundation alone cannot handle the medical needs of beneficiaries of the outreach, adding that the foundation was collaborating with the state government on the project.

She advised those on referral to ensure they adhere to medical instructions, while the HIV positive persons should go for enrolment and drugs as advised by medical experts.

“You must continue to go for your drugs until you attain an undetectable viral suppression level, thereafter the visits to the health facility could be once every three months or six months,’’ she said.

She said that once somebody attains the undetectable viral level he or she can no longer transmit the virus to another person, saying “at that point, you can even have unprotected sexual intercourse,’’ she stated.

The foundation conducted the following medical examinations – tuberculosis, blood pressure, sugar level, eye screening and provision of reading glasses.

(NAN)