With over 70 percent of hypertensive patients guilty of non-compliance with their drug regimens in Nigeria, experts have harped on the need for Nigerians to develop the culture of regular blood pressure checks even as they expressed worry over patients’ drug inconsistency.
Meanwhile in a renewed war against hypertension, the Nigerian Health Foundation, NHF; Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc and Microlife, have strengthened collaboration to ensure that Nigerians with problem of hypertension have access to their medicines.
Speaking during the anniversary of “Fight the Good Fight Against Hypertension, FITGAH”, in Lagos with the theme: “Hypertension Never Sleeps”, President of the Nigeria Heart Foundation, Dr Kingsley Akinroye regretted the unacceptable rise of some known lifestyle driven factors of heart disease in the country.
Akinroye who is also Vice President, World Heart Federation, WHF, identified ignorance as a major factor militating against management of the condition and urged Nigerians to know their numbers.
He said the theme for this year’s World Hypertension Day, entitled “Know your Risks” had the goal of increasing high blood pressure awareness in all population around the world.
Lifestyle driven factors of heart disease which is on the increase in Nigeria include high blood pressure, obesity, tobacco consumption, excessive intake of salt and urban lifestyle where people eat more of junk foods as part of efforts to check heart disease.
He said heart disease which is the world’s number one killer, accounts for 30 percent of deaths around the globe in 2010 at an estimated economic cost of US$850 billion dollars
On the partnership with Neimeth, Akinroye expressed hope that it would draw attention of Federal and state governments and health ministries’ policies on the condition.
The renowned cardiologist also stated that the prevalence among Nigerians is between 25 percent and 40 percent depending on the area of location and commended Neimeth for slashing the price of its anti – hypertensive drugs – Normoretic, Amlovar and Miniplus by half.
The Chief Executive Officer, Neimeth, Pharm. Emmanuel Ekunno, who spoke on achievements of FITGAH, said evidence show continuous rise in hypertension among Nigerians, noting that under the programme out of a total of 525 people screened in Lagos, 219 people were hypertensive.
Stressing the need for locally made anti – hypertensive products, he said 1 in 10 adults have hypertension hence the need for available, affordable and accessible drugs.
He said the decision to halve the price of the company’s anti – hypertensive was to ensure affordability of the drugs to Nigerians.
Maintaining that hypertension is assuming an epidemic status in the country, Ekunnor alerted that hypertension never sleeps, hence the need for people to be more committed in checking their blood pressure as well as adhere to their routine drugs.
Advocating for free anti–hypertensive in the country, he called on coorporate organisations and the incoming government to support FITGAH in the war against hypertension, even as he disclosed plans to establish a Cardiovascular Support Group where hypertensive patients will learn from medical experts on how to control and manage their conditions with ease.
On her part, Chief Executive Officer, Microlife, Mrs. Shade Animashaun who donated electronic blood pressure checks warned against self medication among hypertensive patients.
“Most people are hypertensive but not aware because they do not check their blood pressures. Most people live in denial while most people cannot afford blood pressure check device. In checking blood pressure, there is need for accurate reading device.” Vanguard
