NIGERIA – The Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) and Population Services International (PSI) Nigeria has entered into a strategic partnership deal with pharma giant AstraZeneca to launch the Healthy Heart Africa (HHA) programme for prevention and control of hypertension.

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), rolled out of the HHA programme following a systematic review and multi-study data analysis of Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors conducted in 2018.

The exclusive research study revealed that nearly one-third of Nigerians have hypertension while other clinical studies warn that more than half of people with hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, in Nigeria are unaware they have it.

Nigeria joining the Healthy Heart Africa programme will facilitate opportunities for collaboration with other partner countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Ghana, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Rwanda to manage hypertension.

We will ensure full integration of this programme with other ongoing government initiatives including covid 19 vaccination, routine immunization, and optimized antenatal care (ANC)

Dr Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency

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The Healthy Heart Africa programme will support the Federal Ministry of Health in evaluating the prevalence of NCDs through data recording as well as contribute to the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases in the country with a focus on hypertension.

The HHA programme will be implemented in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 17 states across Nigeria including Adamawa, Anambra, Akwa-Ibom, Bauchi, Delta, Enugu, Gombe Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, and Sokoto States.

The partnership between FG and PSI to launch Healthy Heart Africa programme in Nigeria is in line with the Ministry of Health’s vision to reduce the burden of NCDs in Nigeria and to strengthen the health system for the delivery of equitable services through the Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS).

Nigeria’s Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire said that the HHA programme will contribute to attaining the common goal of orienting the health system towards addressing the prevention and control of NCDs at all levels of care and by integrating them into our primary healthcare system.

In addition, the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency have partnered to establish the National Multisectoral Action Plan (NMSAP) for the Prevention of Noncommunicable diseases.

 The Healthy Heart Africa programme in Nigeria will contribute to strengthening the healthcare system by screening for hypertension at the primary healthcare level along with promoting a sustainable healthcare system by training healthcare providers.

Furthermore, the programme will ensure that healthcare providers are offered training on hypertension screening, treatment and management while supporting implementing facilities with screening equipment as well as promoting education and awareness activities in the community.

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