The Ghana Health Service (GHS), in partnership with PATH and AstraZeneca’s Healthy Heart Africa (HHA) initiative, has commemorated this year’s World Hypertension Day with a renewed call for regular blood pressure checks and early treatment to curb the growing burden of hypertension in Ghana.
Observed globally on May 17 each year, World Hypertension Day was initiated by the World Hypertension League in 2005 to raise awareness about hypertension and promote preventive measures. The theme for this year’s celebration is: “Controlling Hypertension Together: Check Your Blood Pressure Regularly, Defeat the Silent Killer.”
According to health officials, hypertension remains one of the leading causes of premature deaths globally and in Ghana, where non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for about 42 per cent of all deaths.
The statement noted that an estimated 1.4 billion people aged between 30 and 79 years were living with high blood pressure worldwide in 2024, but fewer than one in five had the condition adequately controlled.
In Ghana, hypertension is estimated to affect about 34 per cent of the population. However, only half of those affected are aware of their condition, while 37 per cent are receiving treatment and just 19 per cent have their blood pressure under control.
The partners said the high prevalence of hypertension and its associated complications highlighted the urgent need for stronger prevention and control measures across countries.
As part of efforts to support national interventions, Healthy Heart Africa, implemented in partnership with GHS and PATH, has since 2019 conducted more than 3.4 million blood pressure screenings across Ghana.
The programme has identified over 740,000 people with elevated blood pressure, while more than 152,000 individuals diagnosed with hypertension have been linked to health facilities for treatment and care.
To commemorate the day, PATH, GHS and Healthy Heart Africa organised screening outreaches in Accra and Kumasi, alongside radio health talks and community awareness campaigns focused on prevention, early detection and treatment adherence.
The organisers described the commemoration as a rallying call for individuals and communities to take responsibility for preventing and controlling hypertension, often referred to as the “silent killer” because of its ability to cause severe complications without obvious symptoms.
They stressed that hypertension is preventable and manageable through regular screening, healthy lifestyle choices and strict adherence to prescribed treatment.
PATH, a global non-profit organisation dedicated to achieving health equity, works with governments and partners worldwide to develop and scale innovative healthcare solutions.
Healthy Heart Africa, AstraZeneca’s flagship health equity programme, currently operates in nine African countries and has conducted more than 80.6 million blood pressure screenings since its launch.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
