Media practitioners against all odds voluntarily turned up for medical checks during a two-day medical outreach organized by the Edo State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Unlike previous health interventions held at the Press Centre where journalists made small jokes as they selected or bypassed tests to run, stylishly avoiding HIV screening or other tests for which they were not too sure nor comfortable with perceived possible outcomes, it was a nouveau riche experience weekend where reverse was the case at the “New Conference Hall, NUJ Press Centre, No 1 Sir Gabriel Igbinedion Way, GRA, Benin City,” as pen pushers turned up, patiently waiting their turn to undergo the physical cervical cancer screening, HIV and Hepatitis “B” testing as well as taking turns to get their body mass index (BMI).
Despite the banter and side talk among participants, the harsh reality of the times and tide in the country seem to have etched and kicked the awareness of the need to stay alive into people’s consciousness; people remotely see the need to stay alive by abiding with the rules of early detection and diagnosis in the treatment process.
Being a free procedure, as the union through partnerships with bodies took care of emanating medical bills, rapt attention was paid by participants to ensure they got optimal benefit of the medical procedure by ensuring that lines were not broken as people shuffled to meet up and get attended to by medical personnel. This went a long way to guide procedures. Though there were minor glitches here and there based on the “Na we-we” familiarity spirit, which allows the breaking of rules, the process was however largely tidy as participants filed out for their blood pressure, dental/oral, and eye test at the mention of their names.
Participants with ocular strain were gifted reading glasses to make their work seamless and effective as they head back to their daily job routines.
A health practitioner from “FPPN,” a screening and cervical cancer centre, Mrs. Okonofua Binta Nana, who interacted and took questions from participants, advised females against washing their intimate areas with soap, claiming it stripped the area of its normal pH value, thus, making it susceptible to infection. She counselled against early or underage exposure to intimate relationships, even as she frowned at the indulgence with multiple partners.
Dr. Jolly Nosa Igunma of the “JONOS Medical Centre” who gave a health talk on some sicknesses even as the routine tests proceeded, beamed focus on preventive measures and need for people to go for routine tests. He drew a line of convergence between high blood pressure and diabetes.
He observed that it took about five years for this convergence to be complete, especially for those leading a sedentary lifestyle, when hypertension is allowed to affect the kidney, heart and other vital organs. He called for proper management, backed by the engagement in routine physical activities to keep heart and body healthy. He hammered on the need for a healthy diet which showcases minimized salt intake, avoidance of red meat, allowing white meat/fish. He also condemned use of olein (sleepy) vegetable oil to cook.
Speaking on the medical intervention which ran from Thursday, 8 to Friday 9, February 2024, held in collaboration with the Junior Chamber International (JCI), Edo Bronze, with support from medical stakeholders, chairman Edo NUJ, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, said it was targeted at journalists who work round the clock to break the news at the detriment of their health.
Calling on members of the press to take full advantage of the process, he revealed that the intervention became expedient to help give a sense of belonging to members of the NUJ. He announced more upcoming scheduled interventions that would run one apiece through the four calendar quarters of the year.
