The World Health Organisation has launched a campaign to reduce the number of people suffering from high blood pressure to coincide with this year’s World Health day.
WHO country representative for Kenya, Ms Custodia Mandlhate, said the ‘High blood pressure is a silent killer, Be safe, Go for check-up’ campaign intends to create awareness as lifestyle diseases put pressure on public health facilities.
Lifestyle diseases are rising in Kenya with cancer a leading cause of death. About 28,500 Kenyans are diagnosed with cancer annually and 22,100 of the affected die because of costly treatment.
“Prevention and control of high blood pressure will go a long way in reducing heart attacks and strokes. High blood pressure is a concern for each and everyone irrespective of age or social class,” said Ms Mandlhate.
Chemotherapy costs between Sh6,000 and Sh600,000 depending on hospital and drugs. Patients pay between Sh500 and Sh1,000 a session of radiotherapy at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Private facilities charge up to Sh50,000 per week.
Lifestyle diseases constitute half of admissions to public hospitals, according to the ministry’s figures.
Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, stress, ageing, tobacco and excessive alcohol intake are some of the hypertension risk factors.
The conditions can lead to complications such as heart failure, stroke, blindness and death. The world health agency estimates 17 million deaths occur every year globally due to cardiac diseases.
WHO
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