The Chief Medical Director of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Professor Chizindu Alikor, has described high blood pressure as a “silent killer” that can damage vital organs and lead to serious health complications.
Alikor stated this on September 9, 2025, in Port Harcourt, while flagging off the hospital’s “Operation Check Your BP: Show Your Doctor” campaign, aimed at promoting regular blood pressure checks among hospital personnel and the wider community.
He said hypertension could remain undetected because many people with elevated blood pressure may not experience obvious symptoms until complications develop.
According to him, poorly controlled hypertension could result in stroke, blindness, heart failure, heart attack, erectile dysfunction and kidney failure.
He stressed the importance of preventive healthcare, urging people to regularly check their blood pressure instead of waiting until they develop symptoms or become seriously ill.
“Knowing your blood pressure is the first step towards protecting your heart and all other critical organs and safeguarding your life,” Alikor said.
The RSUTH CMD encouraged members of staff and residents to take advantage of the screening initiative, know their blood pressure numbers and seek medical attention where necessary.
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He said the teaching hospital remained committed to promoting quality healthcare, prevention and health promotion, adding that the campaign was designed to make preventive healthcare a personal responsibility and a culture within the society.
Also speaking, the Head of the Department of Cardiology, Dr Boma Oyan, said the objective of the campaign was to encourage hospital personnel to know their blood pressure status and maintain healthy levels.
“Our mission today is simple but is life-saving: to empower you with awareness, help you to know your numbers, keeping in mind that the normal baseline is 120 over 80, and provide immediate, accessible check-ups,” Oyan said.
She urged staff to take advantage of the screening and make regular blood pressure checks part of their healthcare routine.
The Assistant Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Simeon Amadi, called on other public and private establishments to adopt similar initiatives for the wellbeing of their workers.
Amadi commended the RSUTH management for introducing the programme, noting that a healthy workforce was essential to ensuring effective healthcare delivery and national development.
He added that, as a teaching hospital, RSUTH was willing to partner with other establishments interested in implementing similar health programmes.
He said the initiative should serve as an example for organisations to prioritise preventive healthcare and regular health screening among their employees.
