Hypertension - a Major Health Concern

The 65th World Health Day was commemorated on April 8 with emphasis on adopting healthy lifestyle.

Statistics from the Ministry of Public Health indicate that some 25 per cent of Cameroonians from 15 years and above are suffering from hypertension. One in three adults worldwide has the hypertensive condition. The United Nations Secretary General says hypertension, which is a silent global killer is a major cause of deaths in rich and poorer countries alike. This year's commemoration of World Health Day which coincides with the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has focused on, "Hypertension" which is public health problem of global concern.

While commemorating the day yesterday, April 8, 2013 at the esplanade of the Ministry of Public Health in Yaounde, the Minister of Public Health, André Mama Fouda and other health partners stressed the need for people to adopt healthy lifestyles to prevent high blood pressure. The minister said cutting down on the intake of salt, eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, reducing stress, controlling body weight, regular screening and avoiding tobacco will minimise the risk of developing high blood pressure and further consequences such as strokes or heart attack.

While noting that the Ministry of Public Health has developed a plan to curb high blood pressure, Mama Fouda noted that the plan focuses on prevention and screening as major tools in the ministry's approach against high blood pressure. In this light, the WHO Representative to Cameroon, Dr Charlotte Ndiaye, advised that when high blood pressure is detected early enough through screening, relatively simple steps can significantly reduce the risk of heart failures and strokes. Throughout the year, the Ministry of Public Health has outlined programmes for regular screening of blood level and round table discussions on hypertension in a bid to create greater public awareness on hypertension and its problems.