The Nigerian Hypertension Society, NHS, has called on the Federal Government and the National Health Insurance Agency, NHIA, to prioritise the availability and affordability of antihypertensive medicines.
It warned that the high cost of treatment is making it difficult for many Nigerians living with hypertension to manage the condition effectively.
The society said the appeal became necessary because hypertension is a lifelong disease that requires continuous treatment and management, making access to affordable medication critical, especially amid Nigeria’s current economic challenges.
The President of the Nigerian Hypertension Society, Prof. Simeon A. Isezuo, made the call while speaking at a press briefing on Monday in Port Harcourt.
According to him, the rising burden of hypertension in Nigeria remained a major public health concern, with many affected persons either unaware of their condition or unable to keep their blood pressure under control.
“In fact, one in every adult Nigerians has hypertension. And sadly, almost less than one in five of people with hypertension have their blood pressure under control,” he said.
Isezuo noted that poor control of hypertension had continued to expose many Nigerians to life-threatening complications such as stroke, chronic kidney disease, heart failure and heart attacks.
He said the consequences of the disease extend beyond health concerns, contributing to loss of lives, reduced productivity and increased financial pressure on affected families.
“Therefore, hypertension remains a silent killer in Nigeria,” he stated.
Despite the challenges, the NHS president said hypertension can be effectively managed when detected early and treated appropriately.
“There’s, however, a good news, and that is the fact that hypertension is treatable,” he said.
He identified lack of awareness as one of the major obstacles to controlling the disease, explaining that many people do not know they have hypertension because it often presents no symptoms.
Isezuo said NHS conference in Port Harcourt brought together doctors, nurses, pharmacists, researchers, policymakers and members of the public to discuss strategies for improving hypertension care and ensuring patients achieve recommended blood pressure targets.
He also urged Nigerians to regularly monitor their blood pressure and seek prompt medical attention where necessary.
“First, we want everybody, starting from those of us in this room, every Nigerian, to know their number.
“The number we are talking about is the blood pressure level. The only way one can know one’s number is by having the blood pressure checked,” he said.
The professor further appealed to journalists and media organisations to support efforts aimed at tackling misinformation about hypertension, particularly on social media platforms.
“Please, when you have to publish information, get an expert nearest to you and kindly confirm whether this is true or not before publication,” he advised.
He expressed confidence that increased public awareness, healthier lifestyles, regular blood pressure checks and improved access to treatment would help reduce the burden of hypertension and enable affected Nigerians to live healthy and productive lives.
Also speaking at the briefing, the Chief Medical Director of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, RSUTH, Professor Chizindu Alikor, warned that hypertension remains a major public health challenge, particularly among pregnant women.
He said hypertension-related disorders in pregnancy, including preeclampsia, are major contributors to maternal mortality.
Professor Alikor stressed the need for increased public awareness, routine screening and early detection to reduce preventable deaths linked to hypertension and its complications.
