World Heart Day: Idris Calls for Stronger Action To Prevent Heart Disease, Save Lives

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called for stronger action to prevent cardiovascular disease, promote early detection and expand access to treatment, stressing that credible and accessible health information remains critical to saving 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 to highlight the need for stronger action against cardiovascular disease.

Idris said the commemoration should serve as a reminder that behind the statistics associated with cardiovascular disease were individuals, families and communities whose lives were directly affected by the condition.

“Behind every statistic on cardiovascular disease is a human being, a family and a story,” he said.

The minister commended HRF for complementing efforts to address heart disease through health education, cardiovascular screening, medical consultations, survivor testimonies and support for indigent patients.

He stressed the importance of equipping Nigerians with reliable information that could help them identify risk factors, recognise warning signs and seek medical attention early.

“Citizens need credible, accessible and understandable information about healthy living, warning signs, risk factors and when to seek medical attention,” Idris said.

He said the responsibility for improving cardiovascular health could not rest with government alone, urging health professionals, civil society organisations, development partners and the media to sustain collaboration in promoting prevention, early detection and access to treatment.

“At the same time, government cannot do this alone,” he said.

Idris also highlighted federal government interventions in the health sector, saying efforts to improve healthcare delivery included the revitalisation of Primary Healthcare Centres and the expansion of specialised medical facilities.

“The federal government, through its various health interventions, is strengthening access to healthcare and preventive services,” he said.

He said the initiatives formed part of broader health-sector reforms under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The minister also accepted the Special Humanitarian Service Award presented to him at the event, saying the recognition would encourage continued support for initiatives focused on protecting lives and improving the wellbeing of Nigerians.

Speaking at the ceremony, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Heart Recovery Foundation, Dr Suleiman Haruna, said the Foundation’s intervention extended beyond medical treatment to helping families affected by heart disease regain stability.

“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 his advocacy 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.

HRF Programme Coordinator, Blessing Moses, said the Foundation had combined awareness campaigns, screening, outreach and treatment support since it began operations in 2024.

“With the screening, we are able to detect what exactly is the problem,” Moses said, stressing that early identification could enable affected children to receive appropriate treatment before their conditions worsened.

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 ensure that diagnosis was followed by timely and affordable treatment.

“It is not enough to diagnose; we must provide access,” Abubakar said.

He advocated sustainable financing for cardiovascular care, stronger local medical capacity, improved data collection and closer collaboration among government, 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 the Foundation 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 later received life-saving surgery through humanitarian support.

The commemoration ended with the presentation of Special Humanitarian Service Awards to individuals and organisations recognised for their contributions to humanitarian service and heart-health advocacy.