By Lexi Elo
As Nigeria continues its quest to become one of the twenty leading economies by 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that one out of every three adults worldwide has high blood pressure, a development that has become a public health issue and threatens the nation’s economy.
While this disease condition has assumed an epidemic dimension, there is an enormous financial burden associated with the disease as treatment of hypertension requires an investment over many years to ensure disease-free years among those affected.
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Investigations show that patients with this condition are placed on a minimum of one to three drug therapies, depending on the severity of the disease condition. With the cost of most anti-hypertensive drugs ranging from N24 to N150 per therapy, a minimum of N54,750 ($342.2) is spent annually on a single drug therapy, aside indirect costs, in a country where millions live on less than a dollar a day.
Ogheneochuka Omaruaye, managing director, New Heights Pharmacy, official partner for Omron Healthcare in Nigeria, said that the prevalence of high blood pressure in the society in a major course as it increases the risk of heart attacks and other health-related issues.
Omaruaye stated that a recent community based study of rural and semi urban population in Enugu, Nigeria put the prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria at 32.8 percent in urban areas and 12.4 percent in rural areas.
“The proportion coming down with high blood pressure increases with age. The prevalence of high blood pressure is highest in some low-income countries in Africa, with over 40 per cent of adults in many African countries thought to be affected. It has become a public health concern as youths in their early 30s are prone to hypertension, a situation which not only reduces life expectancy but threatens the nation’s economic life since the productive part of the population is at risk.
“The risk of developing high blood pressure can be reduced by reducing salt intake, engaging in physical activity, maintaining a healthy body weight; and avoiding tobacco use. Opportunity has beckons on us to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of the ailment. Adults are encouraged to check their blood pressure regularly not only during periodic hospital visits and follow advice of health-care professionals,” Omaruaye explained.
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Emmanuel Ekunno, managing director, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals, noted that beyond the low level of awareness of hypertension, there is the need to make the drugs available as most anti-hypertensive drugs sell within the range of N24 to N150 per therapy.
Currently, less than 5 percent of Nigerians are covered by health insurance. These include civil servants working for the federal government and women and children under the Maternal and Child Health Project, which is funded by the US government (USAID).
There are plans to roll out coverage for such basic and essential health services including access to diagnosis and treatment for hypertension under a national health bill, which the federal government is currently considering.
Nowhere are these problems felt more acutely than in the country’s burgeoning urban areas. Lagos is a rapidly expanding city that is home to an estimated 10 million people, and, according to a recent United Nations Habitat report, is projected to overtake Cairo to become the largest city in Africa with 12.4 million inhabitants in 2015.
Research shows that urbanization brings risks other than sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diet. City life has implications for levels of stress and loss of family cohesion as well as it cuts across gender and socioeconomic status.
In preparation for the United Nations summit on Non- Communicable Diseases which held in New York, in September 2011, the Federal government had inaugurated a Technical Working Group to come up with patriotic, articulate and cost effective framework for the country.
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While the former minister of health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu who is the Chairman of the Committee had listed hypertension as one of the NCDs to be tackled, the committee is yet to make significant recommendations about tackling the menace of NCDs.
With the current situation, observers are questioning the true position of Nigeria’s policy on hypertension – whether diagnosis, treatment or prevention. It is no secret that many local hospitals even at the tertiary level are lacking in capacity to deal appropriately with diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.
Instances abound of suspected or confirmed hypertensive patients who are unable to access essential care and treatment. For instance, lack of functionally equipped ambulance services has in no small measure put millions of Nigerians in potential danger as emergency rescue and early resuscitation for patients with severe complications of hypertension is a Herculean task
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