Every year on May 17, the global health community observes World Hypertension Day to raise awareness about high blood pressure, a stealthy yet deadly condition affecting over one billion people worldwide. The theme for this year (2025), “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer!”, underscores the urgent need for early detection, proper management, and sustained control of hypertension to prevent life-threatening complications.
In low-income countries like Nigeria, hypertension is not just a health issue; it’s a growing epidemic. Often called the “silent killer”, it frequently goes undetected due to a lack of symptoms until severe damage occurs, leading to #stroke, #heartfailure, #kidneydisease, and premature death. Limited healthcare access, low awareness, high treatment costs, and shortages of medical personnel worsen the crisis, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations who lack resources for preventive care.
Nigeria’s struggle with #hypertension reflects broader challenges in low-resource settings:
- Many #Nigerians remain unaware of their condition until complications arise.
- High medication costs and weak healthcare infrastructure hinder effective management.
- Unhealthy diets (high in salt), physical inactivity, tobacco use, and stress contribute to rising cases.
Without urgent intervention, #hypertension will continue to strain already fragile health systems, increasing preventable deaths from cardiovascular diseases.
Like other #NGOs working within the health space, #ROHSI3 is making a tangible difference by combating hypertension at the grassroots through:
Community Screenings! Providing free #bloodpressure checks to detect undiagnosed cases.
Awareness Campaigns! Educating communities on risks, prevention, and management.
* Health Education! Promoting low-salt diets, regular exercise, stress management, and smoking/alcohol cessation.
Affordable Medication Access! Ensuring people with hypertension can obtain low-cost antihypertensive drugs.
Continuity of Care! Collaborating with stakeholders to support long-term management for patients.
Our work demonstrates how local interventions save lives where formal healthcare systems fall short.
Today we are saying, together, we can defeat hypertension! To turn the tide against this silent killer, we need collective effort:
To Government & Policymaker, please:
- We are saying, Integrate hypertension screening into primary healthcare systems.
- Subsidise medications and enforce salt reduction policies (e.g., food labelling regulations).
- Launch nationwide public health campaigns on prevention.
To pharmaceutical companies, please:
- Expand access to low-cost generic medications.
- Partner with NGOs such as ours and governments to improve drug availability in underserved areas.
To International Health Bodies (#WHO, #WorldHypertensionLeague, #NCDAlliance, #WorldHeartFederation, etc.):
- Support training programmes for healthcare workers.
- Fund research and tailored interventions for hypertension in low-income countries.
To Our People: What You Can Do:
* Get screened regularly! Early detection saves lives.
* Adopt a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle! Reduce salt, exercise, quit smoking/alcohol, and manage stress.
* Spread Awareness! Encourage family and friends to monitor their blood pressure.
We are saying together we can put a stop to the surge of hypertension if detected early and controlled effectively. This World Hypertension Day, let’s commit to:
- Measuring our blood pressure accurately
- Controlling it through lifestyle changes and medication
- Living longer by adopting healthier habits
Through community efforts, government action, and global support, we can defeat this silent killer in Nigeria and beyond.
Courtesy: Rays Of Hope Support Initiative (ROHSI) Management Team
#LeadOnNCDs #who_nigeria #codixpharma #ActOnNCDs #rohsicares #Rohsi3 #NPHCDA #NCDs #ibadan #WorldHypertensionDay