The NHS President, Prof. Simeon Isezuo, made the call in Sokoto at a news conference to mark the 2024 World Hypertension Day.
World Hypertension Day is a day designated and initiated by The World Hypertension League, which is an umbrella to organisations of 85 national hypertension societies and leagues.
The day was initiated to increase the awareness of hypertension.
Isezuo emphasising the significance of observing the day in Nigeria, highlighted that one in every three adults suffers from hypertension.
“Moreover, the disease often presents no symptoms until serious damage has been done to the body,”he said.
He stressed the importance of traditional measures in preventing hypertension, such as consuming African foods derived from roots, stems, and leaves, engaging in regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight.
“Prevention is paramount. The historical rarity of hypertension among native Africans prior to Western influence suggests its preventability,” Isezuo said.
He listed obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and diets high in salt, fats, and sugars as the primary contributors to the increasing prevalence of hypertension in Africa.
He encouraged embracing traditional physically active lifestyles, such as frequent walking, gardening, and traditional dances.
Additionally, he suggested promoting cycling as a mode of short-distance transportation and locating vehicle parking spaces at a distance from workplaces.
Isezuo stressed the importance of using appropriate apparatus for blood pressure checks, urging the health industry to enhance affordability and user-friendliness of such equipment.
“We encourage both government and private sectors to consider rewarding employers with blood pressure apparatus,” he added.
Commending the federal government and its partners, Isezuo noted the integration of hypertension care into primary healthcare programme and the implementation of essential medical policies for treatment.
The NHS President highlighted the hereditary nature of hypertension, emphasising the need for collective familial efforts in its control.
“I advocate strengthening traditional African family systems in hypertension control.
“Ultimately, every Nigerian household should have a blood pressure apparatus for regular monitoring,”he said.
