The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has offered free health checks for Nollywood actors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The exercise was part of the 2026 annual “AGN Health Campaign and Walk for Life” initiative held on Saturday in Abuja.

Participants received free screenings for blood sugar levels, high blood pressure, malaria, hepatitis B and C, HIV/AIDS, and eye examinations, along with free glasses and medications administered by health officials.

In an interview with journalists on the sidelines, Salma Aminu, FCT mayor of AGN, urged actors and other industry players to prioritise a healthy lifestyle to avoid an imminent health breakdown.

Ms Aminu, who hosted the event, lauded the actors who took part in the exercise.

“This is awareness for actors to take their health seriously, and we believe that if we keep doing this annually, members will remember to do checkups regularly.

“By doing this annually, we are sure that the actors who participated in this have availed themselves of basic health checks at least once a year.

“This will serve as a push for them to continue the checkup on their own. As a guild, another measure we have put in place for members is the HMO scheme,” she said.

Earlier in his remarks, Abubakar Yakubu, national president of the AGN, said filmmaking was so demanding and time-consuming that many industry players, especially actors, had little or no time to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

According to the AGN boss, the annual health campaign is part of measures to curb the spate of health challenges faced by thespians.

The AGN helmsman also encouraged actors to enrol in the guild’s health insurance programme to access prompt and affordable medical attention whenever the need arises.

“We are introducing a sports club to ensure that members take part in regular physical exercise, which is another straightforward way to wellness.

“To avoid imminent breakdown of their health, we are urging members to get enrolled in our HMO schemes for regular tests.

“If you are assigned to an HMO and after six months you have not utilised it, they will call you to come and run a general test because the scheme covers everything,” he said.

Nazareth Bako-Jesse, AGN vice president (North-Central), said the initiative was part of the guild’s commitment to the general well-being of Nollywood actors.

Also, Drew Odoh, director of communication, AGN FC, said, “This project is laudable, although it is capital-intensive.”

(NAN)