Idris Urges Stronger Action Against Heart Disease, Says Prevention Can Save Lives
Oru Leonard
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called for stronger national action to prevent cardiovascular diseases, promote early detection and expand access to treatment, stressing that credible health information can help save lives.
Idris made the call on Tuesday in Abuja in a message delivered on his behalf by the Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr Mohammed Bulama, at the 2026 World Heart Day commemoration and Special Humanitarian Service Award ceremony organised by the Heart Recovery Foundation (HRF).
The event, themed “Use Heart for Action,” brought together medical professionals, heart patients and survivors, development partners, members of the diplomatic community, media practitioners and other stakeholders.
The Minister said World Heart Day provided an opportunity to reflect on the human impact of cardiovascular disease, noting that behind every statistic was an individual, a family and a personal story.
He commended HRF for translating concern about heart disease into practical interventions through health education, cardiovascular screening, medical consultations, survivor testimonies and support for indigent heart patients.
According to him, credible public information remains central to preventing heart disease and encouraging people to seek timely medical attention.
“Citizens need credible, accessible and understandable information about healthy living, warning signs, risk factors and when to seek medical attention,” Idris said.
He called for closer collaboration among government, health professionals, civil society organisations, development partners and the media to strengthen public awareness and improve access to cardiovascular care.
Idris also highlighted efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen healthcare delivery, saying interventions aimed at revitalising Primary Healthcare Centres and expanding specialised medical facilities formed part of broader health-sector reforms under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
The Minister, however, stressed that government could not address the challenge alone.
“At the same time, government cannot do this alone,” he said, urging stakeholders to sustain partnerships that promote prevention, early diagnosis and access to treatment.
He accepted the Special Humanitarian Service Award presented to him by the Foundation, describing the recognition as an encouragement to continue supporting initiatives focused on protecting lives and improving the wellbeing of Nigerians.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of HRF, Dr Suleiman Haruna, said the Foundation’s intervention went beyond medical treatment to helping families rebuild their lives after confronting heart disease.
“We are not just treating hearts. We are restoring families, we are restoring careers, and we are restoring children,” Haruna said.
The Founder of HRF, Gilbert Kiaka, said his personal experience with heart disease inspired him to advocate for children living with congenital heart defects and families unable to afford treatment.
“Poverty should never determine whether a child lives or dies from a treatable heart condition,” Kiaka said.
The Foundation’s Programme Coordinator, Blessing Moses, said HRF had combined awareness campaigns, screening, outreach and treatment support since commencing operations in 2024.
“With the screening, we are able to detect what exactly is the problem,” she said, stressing that early detection could enable affected children to receive appropriate treatment before their conditions deteriorate.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Umar Abubakar, a cardiothoracic surgeon and President of the Nigerian Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons, called for stronger systems to link diagnosis with treatment.
“It is not enough to diagnose; we must provide access,” Abubakar said.
He advocated sustainable financing for cardiac care, stronger local medical capacity, improved data systems and closer collaboration among government institutions, hospitals, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders.
The event also featured testimonies from beneficiaries whose children had received support for cardiac treatment.
One beneficiary expressed appreciation to HRF for helping her child access treatment and recover, while a medical account highlighted the case of a Nigerian child who became critically ill while travelling abroad for treatment but eventually received life-saving surgery through humanitarian intervention.
The commemoration concluded with the presentation of Special Humanitarian Service Awards to individuals and organisations recognised for their contributions to humanitarian service and heart-health advocacy.
