Hypertension - or elevated blood pressure - is a serious medical condition that significantly increases the risks of heart, brain, kidney and other diseases. But despite its seriousness, most persons around the world who suffer from it may not be even aware of it. Therefore, putting the spotlight on hypertension may have major implications for raising awareness and mobilizing the public interest to learn and improve conditions at all levels: personal, community, health care facility and at national ministries of health with the aim of improving the control of hypertension.
The World Hypertension Day of 2020 was observed with an informative webinar and a high level line up of committed individuals around the world including the WHO General Director, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Dr. Tom Frieden, from the Resolve to Save Lives Initiative, and soccer star and health foundation director, Mr. Didier Drogba, as well as country public health leaders from around the world who are working towards improving the control of hypertension at a population level.
The Region of the Americas was also present with the participation of Dr.Rohit Doon, from the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago and Dr. Anselm Hennis, Noncommunicable and Mental Health Director at PAHO who provided an overview of the implementation of HEARTS in the Americas.
During the second part of the event, the new virtual course on accurate automated blood pressure measurement was presented , with the participation of Professor Norm Campbell, from the University of Calgary, and Dr. Tej Khalsa, from the Mayo Clinic, as well as Carlos Leon and Dr. Pedro Orduñez from PAHO.
Resources for everyone:
- If you are a patient or someone who takes care of a patient:
- If you are a health provider:
- Virtual course on how to improve your technique of measuring blood pressure, a certifying virtual course to hone your skills and keep them sharp.
- If you manage health care programs:
- If you are at Ministry of Health
- If you are a community member, enjoy an upbeat video with a heartfelt message – Saint Lucia HEARTS Initiative