Prof.Obiorah Ejiofor, chairman health sub committee for the diocesan synod 2024 and his team have called on the priests and laity to engage in routine medical checks.
Ejiofor who is a professor of medicine with specialty in pediatric, said that there are needs for the faithful to develop the habit of medical routine checks to avoid sudden deaths.
He said that the called was made due to the records of number of members who visited the sick bay created for the synod program,who had health challenges without knowing.
” We discovered that out of over 400 members who visited the sick bay through out the program that the priests were highest in number of people with hypertension.
” Most of the priests from different parishes were having mild to moderate hypertension, which means that they do not know that they have high blood pressure,” he said.
"The normal range of blood pressure is between 130/ 90, any reading above the above record gives cause to worry which over 100 priest's who visited the sick bay had.," he said.
Ejiofor said that most of the the priests were not having any form exercise, nor rest rather they involve from one program to another without enough rest.
He said that the priests have been advised to have good rest and do exercise regularly despite the facts that they do work of God as they need to be alive to serve God.
Ejiofor said that regular medical checks such as blood glucose,blood pressure, diabetes test amongst other medical check done timely will curb severe heath challenge.
He said that negligence of routine medical checks has so much disadvantage as it is possible to lead to premature death.stress, stroke,heart attack,kidney failure amongst other preventable health issues.
Ejiofor said that in most cases people suffer from malaria morev in normal medical records but in this synod what we recorded more was high blood pressure with the priest having highest numbers.
He urged the priests to start immediately with routine medical checks in all their parishes so as to be healthy to serve God.
Ejiofor noted that the first and second of they synod a record of 300 patients were seen with most of them having high blood pressure, the priest topping the list.
" the third we had 110 patients this day more of people with malaria and other illness was attended even without them knowing they are sick.
Ejiofor said that all the medicines given to the patients who visited the sick bay was free and that all medical practitioners in the church with support from the diocese provided it.
Mrs Chinwe Ikeakor, a pharmacist with University Teaching Hospital Enugu (UNTH), a member of the medical team commended the diocesan for offering the team opportunity to serve.
Ikeakor said that the synod with theme “Running the Christian Race :Implication for the church in perilous times, is apt as christians need to check and ensure theiir health while working for God.
she said that the medical team have worked since the commencements of the synod to care for the medical needs of the people who visits the sick bay.
Ikeakor said that the sick bay provided for the synod made a lot of positive impacts on patients both the priests and laity that visited the medical team.
” it was very eventful in the sense that we were able to discover that most people do not understand the need for regular medical check.
” We attended to many people with blood pressure cases who do not even know that the suffer from it.
Also diabetics patients, the eye check was done with optometrist and all these people were unaware of the developing health challenges.
" Some patients do not know that they have diabetics,glaucoma, amongst other health challenges that is preventable.
” We instantly engaged in health counseling and exposing them to dangers of not having medical checks and its benefits,” she said.
She said that the medical team really met the reason for establishing the sick bay as many preventable health issues were diagnosed and referrals made.
Ikeakor disclosed that the medical team have suggested to the committee their reports to present to the Bishop for action.
She said that necessary health advise on ways programs can be designed to creat room for games and health care for the priest to recreation away from pure church work.
” Their programs need to be designed in a way to grant them personal times for exercises, rest and other personal things.
Mrs Ngozi Chiadikaobi, who enjoyed the medical services commended the idea of having a sick bay in church functions for people to enjoy free health checks.
Mr Ikenna Okoye who benefited from the medical team services appealed that the trend continues and be extended to other church activities.