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SAfAIDS World Health Day 2013 statement
Southern
Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS)
April 08, 2013
World Health
Day celebrated annually on the 7th of April marks the anniversary
of the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948.
Each year a theme is selected for World Health Day that highlights
a priority area of public health concern in the world. The 2013
theme is "Measure your blood pressure, reduce your risk".
Hypertension commonly known as high blood pressure, is a disease
that has compounded the African continent as a silent killer for
many years. SAfAIDS joins the world in commemorating this significant
calendar day to draw attention to the myriad of health concerns
globally.
The prevalence
of hypertension is highest in Africa (46% of adults) while the lowest
prevalence is found in the Americas (35% of adults). Overall, high-income
countries have a lower prevalence of hypertension (35% of adults)
than low -and -middle income groups (40% of adults). According to
WHO, worldwide, high blood pressure is estimated to affect more
than one in three adults aged 25 and over, or about one billion
people. “High blood pressure is a serious disease that is
affecting the African continent particularly impacting women. We
join WHO today in its commitment to address high blood pressure
so that we can raise a generation that is free from the burden of
this disease”, said Mrs Lois Chingandu, SAfAIDS Executive
Director.
Hypertension
is one of the most important contributors to heart disease and stroke
– which together make up the world’s number one cause
of premature death and disability. Researchers estimate that high
blood pressure contributes to nearly 9.4 million deaths from cardiovascular
disease each year. It also increases the risk of conditions such
as kidney failure and blindness.
People of all
ages and backgrounds can develop high blood pressure however it
can be prevented. Key steps that can be taken to reduce the risks
of high blood pressure are:
- consuming
less salt
- eating a
balanced diet
- engaging
in regular physical activity
- avoiding
tobacco use
- avoiding
harmful use of alcohol
These actions,
along with the measurement of blood pressure, also save individuals
and governments time and money, WHO says. "Our aim today is
to make people aware of the need to know their blood pressure, to
take high blood pressure seriously, and then to take control,"
said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan.
Watch your diet
and go and get your blood pressure measured this World Health Day!
Visit the SAfAIDS
fact
sheet
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