Ghanaians has been advised to regularly check for their blood pressure levels and maintain a good diet to avoid death.
On the occasion of World Hypertension Day held in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional Capital, Dr. Robert Yeboah, Program Director, Healthy Heart Africa- PATH Ghana warned that hypertension-related deaths are on the rise and that there is a need for the public to be responsible for their health and embrace a healthy lifestyle to prevent such casualties.
Hypertension otherwise known as blood pressure is the excessive force with which blood circulates against the walls of the body’s arteries (the major blood vessels in the body).
It is a serious medical condition that significantly increases the risks of heart, brain, kidney diseases among others.
One is said to be hypertensive when the blood pressure on the sphygmomanometer or the blood pressure apparatus reads above 140/90.
It is considered to be severe when the pressure is above 180/120.
Speaking on the global theme for 2026 World Hypertension Day; “Controlling Hypertension Together: check your blood pressure regularly, defeat the silent killer”, Dr Yeboah revealed that, in 2024, an estimated 1.4 billion people aged 30-79 were living with high blood pressure worldwide, yet fewer than one in five had it adequately controlled.
According to him, Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghana including hypertension, account for 42% of all deaths with hypertension affecting an estimated 34% of the population. While about 50% of individuals are aware of their diagnosis, only 37% are on treatment, and just 19% have their blood pressure under control.
Dr Robert Yeboah added that, the high global prevalence of hypertension and associated premature mortality underscores the urgent need for countries to implement measures for its prevention and control.
Meanwhile, Healthy Heart Africa, an AstraZeneca Health Equity initiative, implemented in partnership with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and PATH complements national efforts to reduce the burden of hypertension in Ghana by promoting awareness, expanding screening and early detection in primary healthcare.
Since 2019, the HHA programme in Ghana has conducted over 3.4 million blood pressure screenings, over 740,000 identified with elevated blood pressure while over 152,000 individuals were diagnosed with hypertension who have been linked to health facilities for treatment and care.
Hypertension, like many other non-communicable diseases,is preventable and there are existing interventions to control it for people diagnosed with the disease.
“Today, May 17, World Hypertension Day serves as a reminder for everyone to check their blood pressure regularly and manage it effectively by adhering to treatment, so they can live healthy and productive lives,” said Dr Yeboah.
AstraZeneca’s Healthy Heart Africa, PATH and Ghana Health Service commemorate the world hypertension day in Kumasi with series of activities including screening, outreach programs and health talks on radio and other community awareness campaigns with emphasis on prevention and early detection of Hypertension.
