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Improving hypertension control in Nigeria: early policy implications from the Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria program

Affiliations
  • 1Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA. oogungb3@jh.edu.
  • 2Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. oogungb3@jh.edu.
  • 3Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, USA.
  • 4Department of Medicine and Global Health Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA.
  • 5The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
  • 6Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria.
  • 7Department of Medicine, Cape Heart Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

Published on:

July 15, 2024

Abstract

Hypertension poses a significant health burden globally. In Nigeria, hypertension prevalence is on the rise, with low rates of awareness, treatment, and control. This policy brief explores the critical gaps addressed by the Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria (HTN) Program, highlighting its strengths, initial outcomes, and scalability in primary care settings. The HTN Program employs an integrated, multilevel care model based on the World Health Organization’s HEARTS technical package, including patient registration and empanelment, team-based care, training and supervision, a standardized treatment protocol, a health information management system, and a drug revolving fund to improve medication accessibility. By December 2023, hypertension treatment and control rates reached surpassing 90% and 50%, respectively, thus underscoring the program’s impact. The HTN Program serves as a model for delivering integrated hypertension care in primary care. Results should be leveraged for political commitment and financing to evaluate and manage non-communicable diseases such as hypertension in primary care through federal and state primary health development agencies. Furthermore, incorporating metrics related to hypertension control and treatment into the Integrated Supportive Management Information System can enhance routine monitoring and evaluation.

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