Advocates Demand Increased Funding for Hypertension Care

During a dialogue on hypertension financing held on Thursday, advocates emphasized the urgent need for increased funding for hypertension treatment in Nigeria. Prof.

Emmanuel Alhassan, a leading health system expert, stated that approximately 27 million Nigerians live with hypertension, yet the government allocates less than 4% of health funding to this condition. He criticized the federal government's inadequate attention to hypertension and called for stronger public awareness and improved access to screening and treatment.

Alhassan pointed out that the burden of hypertension is disproportionately high, with no funding released for the condition in 2025. Franci Okonkwo, a patient advocate, shared personal experiences, warning that hypertension often shows no symptoms until life-threatening complications arise.

The dialogue aimed to mobilize media and civil society organizations to intensify public education on hypertension and encourage routine blood pressure checks among Nigerians.