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Kenya’s Ministry of Health in partnership with Cardiac Society Wednesday launched a month long campaign that will see Kenyans screened for blood pressure – as the government steps up war against cardiovascular diseases.
The campaign christened Pima Pressure is part of May Measurement Month that will see the ministry set up free screening stations in the country’s referral hospitals, public universities and selected public pick up points.
Up to 200,000 people across the country are expected to benefit from the initiative that will offer cardiovascular health education at the national and community level.
One in four Kenyans are believed to be living with hypertension while more than half of Kenyan population has never tested for blood pressure, according to National Stepwise Survey undertaken in 2015. The report further shows that a whooping more than 90 per cent of those undergoing treatment for hypertension has not attained control of the disease.
Health PS Julius Korir said public announcement would be communicated in the coming days.
“Kenyans should regularly measure their blood pressure since that the first step to better health. We will have free blood measurement and health education across various centres during the campaign period. These locations shall be communicated at the beginning of the drive,” said Korir.
May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global screening initiative aimed at highlighting the need for increased blood pressure awareness among populace during the thirty-day period. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. Cardiovascular disease includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack).
The ministry will also be commemorating the World Hypertension Day on May 17 at Uhuru Park, Nairobi in partnership with Nairobi County government.