Despite affecting one in every three adults in Nigeria, hypertension remains largely undiagnosed, untreated, and uncontrolled, with only 10% of affected Nigerians receiving proper care, according to health experts and government officials.
At the opening of the 25th Annual Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Hypertension Society (NHS) in Abuja on Monday, the Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the rising burden of hypertension, which it describes as both a public health and economic crisis.
Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Anas, said the government is not unaware of the challenges posed by the disease, saying, “The burden of hypertension in Nigeria is larger than ever before. Current data suggests that nearly 1 in 3 Nigerians has hypertension.
“Many remain undiagnosed, even among those diagnosed with progressive mental health conditions.
“The consequences of hypertension include major repercussions, greater failure, greater mortality, and poor health, social, economic and personal.
“Hypertension is not only a clinical condition, it is a threat to national productivity, economic stability and sustainable development.”
Noting that the President recognized that scaling up hypertension control is a national health priority, she said, “To this end, the Government is taking forward a multistage action such as the integration of hypertension treatment and management into primary health care through the BG Healthcare Promotion Fund and the National Health Sector Strategic Development Plan 3, which will soon be implemented.
“These platforms make hypertension care widely accessible integrating hypertension management into primary healthcare services through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and the upcoming National Health Sector Strategic Development Plan III”.
Represented by her Technical Advisor, Umaru Tanko, the Presidential aide said over 20 million Nigerians are now covered under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHAI), providing financial protection for chronic conditions like hypertension.
“Hypertension is more than a clinical issue; it is a threat to national productivity and sustainable development. Our response must combine global scientific advances with local realities,” Dr. Anas said.
She also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve access to affordable medicines through local drug manufacturing and to scale up digital health platforms and telemedicine.
She urged researchers and practitioners to support national registries and translational research efforts.
“Policies are only as good as the evidence that guides them. Together, we can leave no Nigerian behind,” she said.
NHS President, Professor Simon Isezuo, described hypertension as a silent killer responsible for the majority of stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease cases in the country.
He expressed concern that most Nigerians with high blood pressure are unaware of their status, with fewer than 10% achieving adequate control.
“We must strengthen early detection and improve consistent treatment,” he said, warning that poor access, high drug costs, and misinformation remain major barriers to progress.
He said the Society has also been proactive in addressing the challenges by intensifying community-based outreach across all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) through a network of zonal representatives and State coordinators.
He said most of the Society’s hypertension screenings are now carried out in rural areas and primary health centres, especially during campaigns like World Hypertension Day and May Measurement Month.
The Board of Trustees Chairman, Prof. Basten Onwubere, called for expanded national health insurance coverage and improved affordability through local production of essential antihypertensive drugs.
“The cost of medications has gone up drastically. We need generic, locally made options to ease this burden,” he said.
Cultural beliefs and misinformation continue to hamper treatment uptake, with many still turning to traditional healers.
“Even among the educated, some believe hypertension is a spiritual condition. This myth must be challenged through sustained education.
“Many start treatment but stop after a while, often due to cost or misconceptions. We need policies that ensure treatment is both accessible and affordable,” Onwubere noted.
Dr. Oladipupo Fasan, a consultant nephrologist and NHS Secretary-General, emphasised the need for an integrated strategy combining clinical care, community outreach, and sound policy.
He praised Nigeria’s new National Salt Reduction Policy and called for task-shifting to empower community health workers.
“We cannot rely solely on doctors; trained non-physician health workers can play a crucial role in managing and referring to hypertension cases.
Read Also: Only 2.5% of Nigerians control hypertension, says NHS
“This is especially important in the face of healthcare worker shortages and the ongoing brain drain.”
Dr. Fasan likened hypertension to the hub of a wheel from which multiple health complications radiate, including stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and even erectile dysfunction.
He warned that unless controlled, hypertension will continue to drive up the burden of non-communicable diseases.
Acknowledging a visible increase in awareness, the Society said data from recent outreach campaigns show more people are checking their blood pressure and visiting clinics.
Still, poor adherence to treatment remains a challenge.
Dietary habits were also a focus of discussions with the experts urging Nigerians to cut back on salt, avoid processed foods high in sodium, and embrace traditional meals low in fat.
They also recommended daily physical activity, including brisk walking and household chores, as effective preventive measures.
