In the lead-up to World Hypertension Day on May 17, 2025, the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service has launched a major public health awareness initiative dubbed the “Measure 1 Million Campaign.” The campaign aims to promote early detection and increased public awareness of hypertension across Ghana.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Fredrick Adomako Boateng, emphasised the urgency of the campaign, noting that hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is often called a “silent killer” due to its lack of obvious symptoms in many sufferers.
“Hypertension is a condition that often shows no warning signs, but its consequences can be fatal,” Dr. Adomako Boateng said.
“Persistently high blood pressure—defined as 140/90 mmHg and above—can lead to serious complications, including stroke, heart attacks, heart failure, and damage to organs such as the eyes and kidneys.”
He added that early detection through regular blood pressure monitoring is essential to reducing the burden of the disease.
The campaign, which forms part of nationwide activities to mark World Hypertension Day, seeks to measure the blood pressure of at least one million Ghanaians. It will also include educational outreach, public sensitisation, and free screening exercises in communities, health facilities, and workplaces.
Global Context and Local Relevance
The initiative aligns with global efforts to combat hypertension, which affects an estimated 1.3 billion adults aged 30 to 79 worldwide, with nearly two-thirds of those living in low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2024).
Dr. Adomako Boateng highlighted that Ghana is not immune to the global trend, stressing that lifestyle factors such as poor diet, physical inactivity, excessive salt intake, smoking, and alcohol consumption are contributing to a rise in hypertension cases in the country.
He urged Ghanaians to take proactive steps toward better heart health by adopting healthier lifestyles, regularly checking their blood pressure, and seeking medical attention when necessary.
National Coordination and Support
The “Measure 1 Million” campaign is being spearheaded by the Ghana Health Service, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other key stakeholders in the healthcare sector. Activities around World Hypertension Day will also involve training healthcare workers, providing community health education, and mobilising resources for long-term hypertension management programs.
“World Hypertension Day is not just a day of commemoration, it is a wake-up call,” Dr. Adomako Boateng said.
“This campaign is about building capacity at all levels, individual, community, and national, to prevent and manage hypertension effectively.” He added.
Source: Oyerepafmonline.com/Joseph Marfo
