By Destiny Obinna
As concerns grow over undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension in Africa, Afonchies Pharmacy Limited has taken free blood glucose and blood pressure screening to residents of Ajah communities in Lagos State, targeting 200 adults in a community health intervention to promote early detection and timely treatment.
The exercise, organised on Saturday, November 14, at the company’s Addo branch to mark the 2026 World Diabetes Day, provided residents of Addo, Badore, Langbasa and neighbouring communities with free blood sugar and blood pressure checks, health counselling and professional medication advice.
The initiative, which aligns with this year’s World Diabetes Day theme, “Early Action on Diabetes,” was designed to encourage residents to know their health status and seek medical attention before potentially preventable complications develop.
Speaking during the exercise, the Managing Director of Afonchies Pharmacy, Pharm. Adebayo Afon, said the initiative reflected the company’s commitment to making healthcare more accessible and encouraging preventive health practices at the community level.
He said community pharmacies had responsibilities beyond dispensing medicines, stressing their importance in health education, early identification of potential health risks and connecting individuals to appropriate healthcare services.
Afon noted that community-based screening was particularly important in addressing the burden of undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension, which often remain unnoticed until complications arise.
The Chief Pharmacist representing the Addo branch, Pharm. Michael Akpala, said the exercise was intended to remove some of the barriers that discourage people from checking their blood sugar and blood pressure, particularly fear and the cost of accessing screening services.
He disclosed that beneficiaries with concerning results would receive appropriate counselling and be linked to nearby primary healthcare facilities, including those in Addo and Badore, for further evaluation and care.
According to him, the company hopes the intervention will encourage residents to make regular health checks part of their healthcare routine rather than waiting until symptoms develop.
Also speaking, the Chief Operating Officer, Pharm. Oluwatosin Majoyeogbe, disclosed that Afonchies currently operates 13 active branches, with another nearing completion.
She said the company planned to make the screening initiative an annual programme, rotating it across communities where it operates to extend access to preventive healthcare.
Majoyeogbe also highlighted the company’s online ordering platform, which enables customers to submit prescriptions, select preferred branches and arrange medicine delivery or collection, subject to regulatory requirements.
She described community pharmacies as the first point of healthcare contact for many residents, emphasising their role in promoting medication safety and appropriate treatment.
One of the beneficiaries, 78-year-old elder statesman, Mr Samuel Akinrinifin, commended the pharmacy for bringing the screening exercise closer to residents, particularly elderly people who need regular monitoring of their health.
Akinrinifin, who said regular health checks had been part of his personal healthcare routine, expressed satisfaction with the initiative and urged Afonchies and other healthcare providers to sustain similar interventions and extend them to more elderly residents.
World Diabetes Day is observed annually on November 14 to raise awareness about diabetes prevention, early diagnosis and effective management.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, approximately 24.6 million adults aged 20–79 were living with diabetes in Africa in 2024, with nearly three out of every four unaware of their condition.
The scale of undiagnosed diabetes underscores the importance of accessible screening, public awareness and early intervention, particularly at the community level.
Through the initiative, Afonchies is seeking to strengthen the role of community pharmacies in preventive healthcare while encouraging residents to take greater responsibility for monitoring their blood sugar and blood pressure.
