As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark World Hypertension Day, the Managing Director of May & Baker, Mr. Patrick Ajah, raised alarm over the widespread issue of undiagnosed high blood pressure in the country, warning that it remains a major contributor to sudden deaths and heart-related complications.
Speaking during a hypertension awareness event organized by the pharmaceutical company, Ajah expressed concern that many Nigerians only seek medical care when their health deteriorates significantly—often revealing dangerously high blood pressure levels that had gone unnoticed.
“Most people we check have alarmingly high blood pressure without even knowing it. Today serves as a reminder of how critical it is to monitor blood pressure regularly to prevent life-threatening conditions,” Ajah stated.
He stressed that hypertension is often silent but deadly, and cautioned against the common belief that once blood pressure normalizes, medication can be stopped. “Once prescribed hypertensive drugs, patients are often expected to remain on them for life,” he said, warning that stopping treatment without medical advice could trigger severe health crises.
Ajah also touched on the role of local pharmaceutical manufacturers, acknowledging their efforts in providing affordable alternatives to expensive imported medications. However, he noted that currency devaluation continues to pose challenges.
While commending the federal government’s recent waiver of customs duties on imported raw materials for drug production and the proposed pharmaceutical pool fund aimed at reducing drug costs, he urged consistency and timely payments to manufacturers.
“It costs money to produce these drugs. If we reduce prices and don’t get paid on time, the system collapses. Some companies are already shutting down due to unpaid debts from previous programs,” Ajah warned, appealing to the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to ensure prompt financial commitments to support local production.
He described the duty waiver initiative as a “fantastic” move that is already yielding benefits. “With just a 5% duty waiver, a 40-foot container could save over N20 million in import costs. This has helped some companies rethink planned price hikes,” he said.
Beyond medication, Ajah emphasized the importance of preventive lifestyle changes, including balanced diets, regular exercise, and annual health checkups—especially for those over 40 or with a family history of hypertension or diabetes.
He concluded by calling for greater public awareness, early detection through routine blood pressure checks, and access to affordable, reliable medication to combat the growing threat of hypertension in Nigeria.
The event was attended by key health officials, including Dr. Modupe Okoh, Director of Medical Services at LAWMA; Dr. Folashade Tawak, Medical Officer of Health, Ikeja LGA; Mrs. Olusola Adenariwo, Deputy Director of Community Health Services, Ikeja LGA; Mrs. Adeseun, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Health District VI; Mrs. Olakunmi Agboibon, Principal Environmental/Occupational Health and Safety Officer, Lagos State Government; and other representatives from the Lagos State Ministry of Health.
