By Asmau Ahmad
The Federal Government of Nigeria said it is set to provide affordable diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases at the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs).
The government said the implementation will commence in the Federal Capital Territory and 17 states across the six geopolitical zones in the country.
Speaking during the launch of the AstraZeneca Healthy Heart Africa Initiative (HHA) held in Abuja, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, said the launch of the programme signals the beginning of hypertension services availability in PHC centres in implementing states.
The implementing states are Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Adamawa, and Gombe.
Others include Nasarawa, Kwara, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Imo, Anambra, Enugu; Akwa-Ibom Rivers, Delta and the FCT.
Dr. Shuaib noted that cardiovascular diseases are of significant public health concern, as “it is responsible for 11 percent of over two million deaths from non-communicable diseases in Nigeria annually.”
He said the majority of Nigerians are not aware of their hypertensive status, hence the Federal Government is collaborating with AstraZeneca through the HHA Initiative to provide affordable diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases at PHC centres.
“It is important that the programme collects data on hypertension from its screening activities because this will possibly inform future decisions and policies on cardiovascular diseases like hypertension.
“We will ensure full integration of this programme with other ongoing government initiatives including COVID-19 vaccination, routine immunisation, and optimised antenatal care,” Shuaib added.
He enjoined communities to avail themselves of this and other PHC services.
Also speaking, Vice President, Global Sustainability and Access to Healthcare, at AstraZeneca, Ashling Mulvaney commended the Federal Government on efforts to tackle the burden of NCDs in the country.
“In the face of a growing hypertension burden, I would like to commend the steps that the Federal Ministry of Health and the NPHCDA have taken to tackle the burden of the disease in Nigeria, such as establishing the National Multisectoral Action Plan for the Prevention of NCDs.
“We are pleased to launch the Healthy Heart Africa programme in Nigeria in partnership with the Federal Government, NPHCDA, and our implementing partner Population Services International. The programme will contribute to strengthening the healthcare system by screening for hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, at the primary healthcare level.
The HHA will also contribute to a sustainable healthcare system by training healthcare providers on hypertension screening, treatment, and management, supporting implementing facilities with screening equipment, and promoting education and awareness activities in the community,” she said.
The launch of the HHA programme in Nigeria marks the ninth country of programme implementation in Africa since 2014.
Executed by PSI Nigeria, the programme will contribute to the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases in the country with a focus on hypertension.
