Engaging the community in hypertension awareness

25 Jun 2024 Stroke prevention

The stroke support organization, the Michael and Francisca Foundation proudly celebrated World Hypertension Day in their community in Nigeria on 17th May 2024.

Here, Michael Uchunor tells us about the events the foundation organised to help to raise awareness about hypertension, promote healthy lifestyle choices, and encourage regular health check-ups to prevent and manage high blood pressure.

On the first day of our celebration, we engaged the community with a series of informative and interactive activities focused on hypertension awareness and prevention. These included:

Free blood pressure screening: we provided screenings to all attendees, allowing individuals to know their numbers and understand their risk levels.
Informational sessions: our team conducted sessions on healthy lifestyle choices, emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and stress management.
Discussion on regular check-ups: we discussed the critical role of regular medical check-ups in early detection and management of hypertension, encouraging participants to prioritize their health.

Our second day included contributions from our many collaborators in the community, including health professionals, survivors of stroke and community mobilisers:

Dr. Ifeanyi Okonkwo gave a talk that thoroughly explained the meaning of hypertension and provided practical strategies for its prevention. His presentation was engaging and educational, offering valuable knowledge to all attendees.
Question and Answers: Following Dr Okonkwo’s lecture, we held a Q&A session featuring stroke survivors. Their stories and experiences added a personal touch, highlighting the real-life implications of hypertension and the importance of effective management.
Training Exercise: We had a training exercise led by our community member Babalola Gaiyesimi popularly known as Coach. This session demonstrated easy and effective physical activities to incorporate into daily routines to maintain healthy blood pressure levels.
Educational Videos: Attendees watched video clips about emergency number Stroke 112, this is a film that has won the New York City International Film Festival Award and was produced by Dr Liu RenYu, endorsed by Stroke Action Nigeria and Michael and Francisca Foundation.
Medicine Donation: We received a generous donation of medicine from Cardinal Drugs Ltd, which was distributed among the participants. This gesture was greatly appreciated and will aid in the ongoing health management of our community members.

Our approach to marking World Hypertension Day is to deliver a variety of activities to engage the community. We recognise the importance of sharing full and accurate information, alongside practical activities for the public to get involved in. Through various activities and educational sessions, we managed to raise significant awareness about hypertension, its risks, and preventive measures. The participation and enthusiasm of our community members were truly inspiring, and we are hopeful that the knowledge gained will lead to healthier lifestyle choices and improved health outcomes.

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