The presidency has expressed grave concern over the rising incidence of Hypertension in Nigeria, which is directly related to high salt intake. Salma Anas-Kolo Ibrahim, the Special Adviser to the President on Health, stated that increasing public awareness as well as stronger policies in the health sector, need to be developed and increased to address this Public Health problem. Ibrahim made her remarks during the event at which she was inducted as a policy champion and Social Media influencer for salt regulations, a program managed by the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED). The special adviser stated that improving Education around the issues will help to reduce rates of cardiovascular diseases that continue to impede the effectiveness of the Nigerian healthcare system.
Ibrahim revealed some disturbing data indicating nearly 38.1 percent of adults in Nigeria are currently living with hypertension. Given that this is nearly 1 in three adults, it is troubling that rates of hypertension are growing in the country. She also made the essential link between increased salt consumption and increased rates of cardiovascular disease. She highlighted the World Health Organization (WHO)’s recommendations that the average adult in Nigeria consumes about 10 grams of salt in every meal, while WHO recommendations indicate that adults consume less than 2 grams of salt in every meal. This excessive salt consumption is directly related to about 10 percent of the deaths attributed to cardiovascular disease, among many other health issues.
Nigerians urged to curb salt use to combat rising hypertension crisis.
Consequently, she called for a cultural shift in dietary practices, especially around the relationship between eating and salt consumption. She noted that the Nigerian diet, which often relies on high salt content in both home-cooked and processed foods, is worsening the hypertension crisis. She recommended using the WHO consumption guideline on sodium, which would recommend people limit salt consumption to approximately less than one teaspoon of salt per meal. She also noted that the requirements for healthier outcomes will require education organized nationally to raise awareness, and regulations to address the public health challenges pertaining to hypertension and excessive salt consumption.
According to the WHO, a considerable number of Nigerians are afflicted with hypertension, estimated at about 38% of adults. This represents around 76 million people living with hypertension, which is a serious public health problem. The situation is further worsened by lifestyle behaviors such as high sodium (or salt) intake, low physical activity, and rising obesity. Notably, the management and prevention of hypertension in Nigeria is a multilayered issue that requires consideration of lifestyle change, public education, as well as some policy-oriented approach.
Health campaigns to combat hypertension crisis needed.
Reduction in sodium intake, increase in physical activity, addressing psychosocial stress, and promotion of a healthy diet are major needed strategies to manage hypertension. In addition, practitioners are encouraged to apply the WHO HEARTS technical package, detailing pharmacological treatment of hypertension and risk-based management of cardiovascular disease. In addressing hypertension in Nigeria, it is also important to strengthen primary healthcare systems and access to affordable medicines. In addition to lifestyle changes, improving awareness and education about hypertension is vital. Many Nigerians remain unaware of their hypertensive status due to a lack of regular health check-ups and limited access to healthcare facilities, particularly in rural areas.
Public health campaigns that focus on educating people about the risks associated with high blood pressure and the importance of regular monitoring are crucial. These campaigns should be tailored to target various demographics, especially the youth, who are increasingly at risk due to changing lifestyles. Such awareness can lead to earlier detection and better management of hypertension across the population. Similarly, Nigeria’s healthcare system deals with considerable difficulties with the management of hypertension, such as health workforce shortages and the migration of health workers to advanced countries.
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Short-term and long-term solutions will need to be adopted to address these issues. In the short term, improving the training of the health workforce and ensuring that general practitioners understand new hypertension management guidelines should take priority; improvements in employment conditions and financial remuneration for health workers in the long term could serve to improve workforce retention and the functional capacity of the health system to provide preventive and clinical care for chronic conditions like hypertension.