The Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals Cardiovascular Centre has urged Nigerians to prioritise heart health by knowing their health numbers, exercising regularly and eating healthily.
Dr Ayobami Kuyoro, Managing Director of the hospital, gave the advice during a health walk in Lagos to commemorate the 2026 World Heart Day.
World Heart Day is commemorated annually on Sept. 29 to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says CVDs are the leading cause of death globally, claiming an estimated 19.8 million lives annually.
CVDs are a group of disorders affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and rheumatic heart disease.
Kuyoro said the programme, themed ‘10,000 Steps’, was initiated to encourage people to take 10,000 steps daily to improve cardiovascular health.
She emphasised the importance of walking, saying it enhanced cardiovascular health and promoted general well-being.
Kuyoro said preventing chronic diseases was far better and cheaper than treating them, urging Nigerians to engage regularly in physical activities.
“Your health is yours, and it is very important to prioritise your heart health over everything.
“Walking has been seen to be very, very important for cardiovascular health; it helps with blood pressure and even blood sugar control.
“We want to encourage everyone participating in the walk not to make it a one-off thing.
“This is something they should be intentional about every day,” she said.
The managing director said being young did not exempt anyone from heart disease, noting that CVDs also occurred among young people.
“There are people in their 20s and 30s living with hypertension; it has nothing to do with age.
“That is why it is important for us to know our numbers through regular checks,” she said.
Kuyoro urged Nigerians not to assume that hypertension affected only older people, stressing that regular health checks were important for everyone.
She said the hospital was celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, adding that the milestone had strengthened its commitment to promoting general well-being.
She said the hospital, a centre of excellence for cardiovascular care, would continue providing world-class healthcare and promoting heart health.
Also speaking, Dr Olubisi Oyeniran, Chief Executive Officer of Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals, said CVDs ranked among the most prevalent diseases globally.
Oyeniran said CVDs remained the leading cause of death worldwide, urging Nigerians to incorporate walking into their daily activities.
He noted that walking remained important for maintaining cardiovascular health as people aged.
Oyeniran reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to quality healthcare, saying its services had remained consistent throughout its 40 years of operation.
He said the establishment of the cardiovascular centre demonstrated the hospital’s vision to provide top-notch cardiovascular care and services across specialties.
The programme also featured exercises, a yoga session and health talks, among other activities.
