CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - AS Nevis joins the rest of the world in drawing attention to Hypertension, the Junior Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration, Hazel Brandy-Williams, is pushing for more education on the Non-Communicable Disease.
Health officials in the twin-island Federation have sounded alarm bells at the number of Hypertension or High Blood Pressure cases, and have been calling for citizens and residents to take their health seriously.
In her address to recognise World Hypertension Day, Minister Brandy-Williams acknowledged that the NCD is still prevalent in the communities, noting that millions of people worldwide have been diagnosed with the chronic disease, which means that everyone has a relative, colleague or friend who is hypertensive.
The Minister disclosed that data shows there are still many people who are unaware of being at- risk for high blood pressure and they do not seek care or take advantage of screening opportunities.
Against that backdrop, she pointed out that efforts to increase awareness and educate communities on hypertension and its associated risk factors are necessary.
“We need to curb the negative impacts of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and even premature death related to hypertension,” added Minister Brandy-Williams.
For this year’s awareness, attention is being placed on encouraging regular screening through community programmes and routine clinic visits for accurate measurements, so as to identify any at-risk persons and for early diagnosis.
Efforts are now on track to emphasise the importance of control once diagnosed.
According to the Minister, this could be achieved by compliance with a doctor’s recommendations, including taking medication daily and practicing healthy habits, which include maintaining a plant-based diet with daily exercise and activities to reduce stress.
This year, in collaboration with the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund Chronic Metabolic Disease Project, the unit will be carrying out activities that include the use of its social media platform to share information on salt and salt reduction, "edutainment" sessions targeting high school students at Charlestown Secondary School and workplace health screening for small businesses in Nevis.
