WORLD HYPERTENSION DAY- “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”  

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands May 19, 2023 – The Ministry of Health and Human Services (MoHHS), Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to join the World Hypertension League (WHL) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in observing World Hypertension Day 2023. World Hypertension Day – celebrated annually on May 17^th – is dedicated to raising awareness and promoting hypertension prevention, detection and control.

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a common condition which if left untreated, can lead to heart attacks, heart failure, stroke kidney failure or blindness. Persons should aim to have a normal blood pressure of 120/80. Hypertension is the main risk factor to develop cardiovascular disease. More than one billion people around the world live with hypertension (high blood pressure), which is a major cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide. It is the principal cause of premature death in the Americas, responsible for around 2 million lives lost each year.

“The burden of hypertension is felt disproportionately in low and middle-income countries, where two-thirds of cases are found, largely due to increased risk factors in those populations in recent decades. What is more, around half of the people living with hypertension are unaware of their condition, putting them at risk of avoidable medical complications and death (PAHO, 2022)”.

This year, the WHL is celebrating its 18^th World Hypertension Day under the theme “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer”, and is using this opportunity to focus on combatting low awareness rates worldwide, especially in low to middle-income areas, and accurate blood pressure measurement methods. 

Commenting on this year’s World Hypertension Day campaign, the Hon. Shaun Malcolm, Minister of Health and Human Services, stated: 

“Hypertension, which is the main risk factor for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), remains a major public health threat.  Therefore, it requires swift action that goes beyond individual and lifestyle changes”. Hon. Malcolm further stated that “the Ministry of Health has embarked on the HEARTs initiative as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access to care for hypertension and other non-communicable diseases at the first level of care, and to provide training and normative guidelines so that the latest, evidence-based approaches for hypertension diagnosis and treatment are practiced in primary health clinics across the islands”.

The MoHHS recognizes that health systems, which are upheld by a primary health care approach, represent the most efficient and cost-effective means of providing health and well-being services to individuals. Moreover, the Ministry is dedicated to delivering accessible, equitable, and high-quality healthcare services to all, and is committed to strengthening the health systems of the Turks and Caicos Islands by enhancing the availability of health services and advancing health education programs.

Accordingly, the Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit of the Ministry of Health and Human Services will continue to promote healthy living and educate the Turks and Caicos Islands community about significant health topics and issues as well as empower individuals to make healthier lifestyle choices.

Persons diagnosed with hypertension are encouraged to manage their risk factors such as high salt diet, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, smoking and comply with treatment as prescribed by their clinicians in order to reduce their risk for complications. Persons should know their numbers through getting their blood pressures checked on a regular basis.

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