By Khalifa Hemed
Published October 5, 2022
An initiative to test and treat heart disease across Africa has been launched.
Known as Hypertension Test and Treat (HTT) programme, the initiative is aimed at helping in the prevention and control of hypertension in Africa where heart disease is reported to be one of the greatest causes of premature death.
The World Health Organization of the United Nations estimates that 46% of adults aged 25 years and older are hypertensive.
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mPharma, the technology-driven healthcare company that has launched HTT to mark the World Heart Day 2022, says ‘hypertension is of public health importance in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in urban areas, with evidence of considerable under-diagnosis, treatment, and control’ and that ‘There is an urgent need to develop strategies to prevent, detect, treat, and control hypertension’.
HTT, mPharma says, shall be delivered through the company’s network of mutti pharmacies in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Zambia, with plans to expand the service to other countries.
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HTT is being rolled out in stages, the first stage was using the ongoing diabetes programme at mPharma and the second identifying people living with hypertension around communities and deploying health education and coaching to help them control their blood pressure.
In its final form, HTT will include more people in its target audience.
The programme, mPharma says,will be available in Kenya as a subscription service available for purchase through mPharma mutti pharmacies and in subsequent months in other countries.