Nearly 400 people received free screenings, medication, and blood pressure monitors at the high blood pressure awareness programme organised by theHundreds of old and young people turned up for the event themed ‘Rise Above High Blood Pressure’ held at the La Sien Pavilion, Old GRA Port Harcourt, Rivers State on 23 September.
While highlighting past achievements, the Chairman explained that the 22nd anniversary was “also a moment of reflection, celebration, and recommitment to our noble cause of reaching the underserved wherever they might be in our nation.” Explaining the 22nd anniversary’s focus on high blood pressure, often called the ‘silent killer’, Dr Lulu-Briggs cited World Health Organisation data, showing that an estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 globally have hypertension, with most living in low and middle-income countries.
In her lecture on the anniversary’s theme, Dr Dodiyi-Manuel advised attendees to reduce salt intake because it is a major cause of hypertension.