By Emmanuel Nyatsikor
Ho, May 18, GNA — Mr Samuel Yao Atidzah, Executive Director of the GOSANET Foundation, has called on Ghanaians to take proactive measures to prevent and control hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure.
He described hypertension as a “silent killer” and one of the leading causes of preventable deaths globally.
Mr Atidzah made the appeal during a media engagement to mark the 2026 World Hypertension Day, observed annually on May 17 to raise awareness about the disease.
This year’s celebration is on the theme: “Controlling Hypertension Together: Check Your Blood Pressure Regularly, Defeat the Silent Killer.”
Mr Atidzah noted that millions of people were living with hypertension without knowing it because the condition often showed no visible warning signs until serious complications developed.
According to him, uncontrolled hypertension significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, dementia, and other life-threatening conditions.
“Hypertension is silently destroying lives, families and communities,” he said.
The Executive Director stated that the disease could be prevented, detected early, and effectively managed through regular health checks and healthy lifestyle choices.
He said World Hypertension Day should serve as a wake-up call for individuals, institutions, health stakeholders, and policymakers to intensify public education, improve access to screening services, and promote preventive healthcare practices.
Mr Atidzah urged the public to adopt simple but lifesaving measures such as regular blood pressure monitoring, reducing salt intake, eating nutritious foods, engaging in regular exercise, avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption, managing stress effectively, and seeking timely medical advice.
He also encouraged churches, schools, workplaces, traditional authorities, and community organisations to incorporate regular blood pressure screening into their public health activities.
“Your health is your wealth, so knowing your blood pressure numbers today can save your life tomorrow. Small lifestyle changes can make a difference,” he noted.
Mr Atidzah reaffirmed the commitment of GOSANET Foundation to community health promotion through health education, awareness creation, and preventive interventions aimed at reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases in the country.
He further called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, civil society organisations, healthcare providers, and the media to prioritise hypertension awareness and improve national health outcomes.
“GOSANET Foundation joins the global health community in advocating healthier lifestyles and improved public awareness,” he stated.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah /Audrey Dekalu
