Akin Abayomi, Lagos State health commissioner, has described as incidence of hypertension in Nigeria as alarming. Abayomi said this was resulting in morbidity, mortality and economic impact among the population.
He raised the concern at the 24th scientific conference and annual general meeting of the Nigeria Hypertension Society (NHS) on Monday in Lagos.
The conference had the theme, “Management of hypertension in a depressed economy” and a sub-theme, “Hypertension in children”.
According to the World Health Organisation, hypertension (high blood pressure) is when the pressure in the blood vessels is too high (140/90 mmHg or higher).
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WHO says hypertension is common but can be serious if not treated, noting that people with high blood pressure may not feel symptoms, adding that the only way to know is to get the blood pressure checked.
Abayomi said that statistics showing that 30 per cent of adults in Nigeria had hypertension was concerning.
“So, as a government, we are very cognizant of the significant prevalence of metabolic diseases, rising incidence of hypertension being of major concern, and sugar intolerance, diabetes. And the statistics are getting a little bit alarming,” he said.
According to the professor, as an academic, he has wondered about factors contributing to the prevalence of hypertension among Africans, recalling that ancestrally, Africans consume low-salt diet, eat small meals once or twice daily and are physically active.
“Now, that whole paradigm of lifestyle has changed. And I think that is why we are beginning to see the kind of prevalence that we are seeing now,” he said.
Abayomi acknowledged the economic impact of escalating costs of health care and access to drugs, stressing that the government was working assiduously to stabilise the cost of medication.
“The Lagos State government is about to establish a drug management agency, which will not only create an avenue for us to cost-contain, but it will also promote the production locally of generic drugs for metabolic diseases so that we can stabilise the cost of drugs,” he said.
He recalled that the governor recently signed the executive order domesticating the National Health Insurance Authority Act, which mandates health insurance for all citizens, noting that the guidelines are being developed.
“The consequence of that is that you will have access to a minimum service package which includes metabolic diseases and particularly diabetes and hypertension”.
The commissioner emphasised the need to drive awareness around the condition described as a silent killer that causes systemic damage, severe morbidity and mortality, costing government, society, institutions and family members dearly.
Also, Bala Audu, president, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said hypertension is a global health concern that affects 1.28 billion adults, especially in low and middle-income countries.
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Audu called for hypertension prevention through increased awareness, early detection and lifestyle modification.
He appealed to the Federal Government to ensure the affordability of medicines for non-communicable diseases, especially hypertension and encourage local production of generic products.
Also, Simeon Isezuo, president, NHS, said the conference provides an opportunity to discuss contemporary challenges in tackling the menace of hypertension in Nigeria.
Isezuo said the choice of the theme was timely, given the rising cost of medicine and other pharmaceutical products, as well as the increasing burden of hypertension across all age groups in Nigeria. According to him, the conference also provides an avenue for analysis of the new initiatives in reducing the burden of hypertension including the incorporation of the management of hypertension into primary health care.
Isezuo praised the Federal Government for its recent policy on the removal of all taxations on imported pharmaceutical products.
Similarly, Adebowale Adekoya, chairman, the local organising committee of the conference, described hypertension as a major health challenge in Nigeria, and the current economic climate adds layers of complexity to its management.
