UNIABUJA Advances Academic Excellence with New Research Initiatives

The Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria (HTN) Programme, launched in 2020, aims to address the growing burden of hypertension in the country, where 38% of the population is affected. In partnership with the University of Abuja, Washington University in St. Louis, and Northwestern University, the program has implemented the World Health Organization's HEARTS technical package, focusing on improving awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension across 60 primary healthcare centers in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.

As of April 2024, the HTN Programme has enrolled 21,922 patients, with 51.3% newly diagnosed. Blood pressure control rates have increased from 32.5% to 55.9%, demonstrating the success of the program’s strategies, which include team-based care, home blood pressure monitoring, and access to affordable medications.

During a stakeholder meeting on April 24, 2024, participants, including government health agencies, the Nigerian Hypertension Society, WHO, and various healthcare organizations, discussed the progress and challenges of the HTN Programme. Key topics included the importance of a unified hypertension treatment guideline, ensuring consistent medication supply, and expanding community awareness.

The HTN Programme’s stakeholders concluded that the success achieved in the Federal Capital Territory could serve as a model for national integration of hypertension services into Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.

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