COWA Marks World Hypertension Day with Free Screening, Awareness for Customs Wives in Karu
…as President Kikelomo Approves Full Medical Sponsorship of 30 Women Diagnosed with HBP
By Muhammad Bashir
In a remarkable effort to eradicate what is believed to be a “silent killer” and dangers of high blood pressure through promoting healthy living among women, the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), held a special medical sensitisation programme at the Karu Customs Barracks, Abuja, to commemorate this year’s World Hypertension Day.
The event, which took place on Saturday, 17th May 2025, was attended by nearly 150 spouses of officers of the Nigeria Customs Service for a day of health awareness, emotional support, and free blood pressure checks aimed at detecting early signs of hypertension and preventing its deadly consequences.
The National President of COWA, Mrs. Kikelomo Adewale Adeniyi, was represented at the event by the National Vice President, Mrs. Maryjane Itotoh, who led the outreach and addressed participants on the health and emotional challenges many women silently face.
“There’s a lot going on mentally with people, especially women. Many are carrying emotional burdens they cannot openly express, and this often leads to stress-related illnesses like hypertension.” Mrs. Itotoh said.
She emphasised that hypertension is a “silent killer” that can go unnoticed until it becomes life-threatening. The objective of the event, she noted, was to raise awareness about the symptoms and lifestyle triggers of high blood pressure while empowering women to take charge of their health.
“You see people collapse while going about their daily activities, unaware they had underlying health conditions. This is why we are making conscious efforts to help our members live healthier lives—emotionally, physically, and mentally.” She explained.
Highlighting the association’s commitment, Mrs. Itotoh disclosed that the COWA leadership had already identified over 30 women who showed signs of elevated blood pressure during the screenings, and arrangements had been made to sponsor their medications and medical consultations.
“With the support of our National President, we’re taking those women to the Customs Hospital, Karu. Their treatment will be fully sponsored by the association. It’s not just about awareness but action.” She said.
She also celebrated the achievements of COWA’s skills acquisition initiative in Karu, which according to her, has empowered nearly 80 women who were previously full-time housewives with no income of their own.
“Many of these women had untapped potential. Now they’ve acquired new skills and are running small businesses. This empowerment not only supports them financially but also improves their mental health and helps reduce hypertension risks.” Hhe highlighted.
On her part, the National Public Relations Officer of COWA, Mrs. Chinelu Dera Nnadi, described the 2025 awareness campaign as “timely and impactful,” applauding the consistency of the National President in putting women’s health and wellbeing first.
“This event was approved by our President to ensure that our members understand the importance of monitoring their blood pressure regularly. It’s not just about the wives—it’s also about the officers themselves, who often don’t make time for check-ups due to their demanding schedules.” She said.
Also present at the event was the Head of the Nigeria Customs Service Medical Corps, Comptroller Ikechukwu Nnaji, who congratulated the association for its forward-thinking health programmes.
“Today is World Hypertension Day, and I must commend COWA for achieving this important milestone. They have consistently demonstrated care for the officers and their families. Hypertension is a silent killer, and bringing awareness to the grassroots like this is how lives are saved.” Comptroller Nnaji said.
He recalled that COWA had, in previous years, organised large-scale sensitisation campaigns for both officers and their families, stressing that such initiatives continue to support the wellness agenda of the Service.
