The Ondo State government has inaugurated a 30-man committee to screen 300,000 residents for non-communicable diseases under a federal government’s programme tagged “Project 10 Million.”

The state Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, who inaugurated the committee on Friday in Akure, said th programme was to screen 10 million Nigerians for non-communicable diseases.

Mr Ajaka said non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, mellitus and hypertension, contributed 27 per cent to the mortality rate in the country.

He said it was unfortunate that many people are ignorant of such diseases, which have led to many untimely deaths and complications such as stroke and renal failure.

“The FG programme will screen 10 million Nigerians at random, out of which 300,000 people will be screened in the state.

“The exercise will be a week long, from October 13 to October 19, and the screening will hold at markets and health centres in the 18 local government areas of the state.

“We will also identify and secure central locations in the communities to make sure it is accessible and have space for health stations and education,” he said.

Responding, Adeniran Ikuomola, the committee chairman, lauded the FG for their efforts to ensure that Nigerians were free from communicable diseases.

Mr Ikuomola, the permanent secretary of state Ministry of Health, said the project would help people know their status and learn how to control infectious diseases.

The committee comprises permanent secretaries in the state’s health and education sector and the secretary, Ondo State Drug and Health Commodities Management Agency.

It also includes chief medical directors and representatives of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Nigerian Medical Association, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, and Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists, amongst others.

(NAN)