-Experts Call for Routine and Regular Checks
Federal Government has rolled out policies and guidelines to safeguard early detection, management, and prevention of hypertension amongst citizens.
Dr. Malau M. Toma, Head of Cardiovascular Diseases and Tobacco Control, under the Division of Non- communicable Diseases in the Department of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare disclosed this during a Public Awareness Road Walk as part of activities marking the 2026 World Hypertension Day in Abuja.
Dr. Toma who led the exercise, said the choice for this year’s theme ” Controlling Hypertension Together: Check your blood pressure regularly, defeat the silent killer” is timely, emphasizing that controlling hypertension can only be achieved through regular checks and maintaining medication consistently for those placed on drugs by health workers.
His words “So hypertension, sometimes called high blood pressure, is sustained elevated blood pressure and it’s a silent killer that gives great complications to people. So the best way to prevent it is to ensure that you are armed with adequate knowledge for you to ensure that the blood pressure is controlled through screening.”
He further stated that hypertension when not timely controlled can result to complications such as stroke, heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and the rest, urging those that have the condition and placed on medication prescribed by healthcare workers to consistently, and adherently take the medication to avoid such complications.
Dr. Malau therefore solicit media support and other stakeholders to intensify awareness campaign to address issues around myths and misconceptions about hypertension, revealing that across the country, primary healthcare facilities are strengthened to provide first level of care for the diagnosis and management of uncomplicated hypertension.
He advised public to engage in adequate physical activity, avoid unhealthy diet, tobacco and nicotine products; eat fruits and reduce fats and oil intake for a healthy living.
Also speaking, Dr. Suleiman Lamorde, Head, Non-communicable Diseases, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency reaffirmed that hypertension is causing a lot of complications to health of individuals and is one of the growing epidemics in the world, so therefore controlling it will improve the health of a lot of individuals.
On this note, he said government and its development partners have now taking the fight against the disease to the doorsteps of almost all Nigerians by ensuring that primary healthcare centers across the country are fully armed to manage simple uncomplicated hypertension, attributing this to intensive sensitization for both health workers and communities at the grassroot levels.
Dr. Lamorde while acknowledging the support of World Bank in revitalizing some primary healthcare centers, mentioned that there are over 9,000 facilities spread across the country, indicating that every ward has a comprehensive functional PHC, therefore , urged people to always go to nearest Primary Healthcare facility for checks whenever they feel sick and for hypertension at least once in a month, suggesting that for adults is supposed to start at the age of 18 years.
“But common BP check is the most simplest thing almost everybody can do, especially for people that are above 50 and those that have signs and symptoms of family history of hypertension.They should be able to check their blood pressure at least once a week. We know it’s not easy. Even if you don’t have the equipment at home, you can go to a facility, it is free” he encouraged.
Contributing separately, Dr. Ademuyiwa Damilola, Director, Programs, Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL) and Dr. Onyekachukwu Osabiku, Senior Technical Advisor- Hypertension Control Resolve To Save Lives (RTSL) who spoke on behalf of other development partners said government is doing well to bring down the impacts of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases, however urged for more commitments in terms of adequate funding and creation of programmes for hypertention and other non-communicable diseases as done for HIV/Aids and maleria.
They pledged their continued unflinching support to government towards bringing down the scourge of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases in Nigeria, adding that their supports also go to the patient communities by linking them to facilities, and ensuring that their voices are heard.
They added “some of them are already telling their lived-in stories as far as what they are experiencing with the fact that they are dealing with these diseases.”
Exclusively, Dr. Onyekachukwu Osabiku stated that Resolve to Save Lives, is currently partnering with the government of Nigeria to support and provide services to across two states, namely: Kano and Ogun State, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the states’ Ministry of Health towards implementation of the Nigeria Hypertension Control Initiative, expressing readiness to expand the initiative to more states
Dr. Osabiku mentioned that as the theme implies there is urgent need to work together to tackle hypertension, therefore called on government, stakeholders, partners and even persons with lived experiences to actively participate in controlling hypertension in the country.
Ado Bako
Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations
23/5/2026.
