Nigerian Experts Urge Action on Hypertension Awareness

On World Hypertension Day, the Nigerian Hypertension Society, represented by President Prof. Simeon Isezuo, raised alarms about hypertension being a leading cause of preventable death and disability in Nigeria. The society emphasized the need for a coordinated national effort to combat high blood pressure, highlighting that one in three adults in Nigeria lives with hypertension, yet fewer than one in five achieve target blood pressure levels.

Prof. Isezuo described hypertension as a "silent killer" due to its lack of noticeable symptoms until severe complications arise, such as strokes and heart attacks. The society called for government action to subsidize essential hypertension medications and expand health insurance coverage.

They also initiated a nationwide free blood pressure screening program to raise public awareness and encourage regular monitoring. Health workers were urged to screen adults and counsel them on lifestyle changes to improve adherence to treatment protocols.