Volunteers of the Kidney Health International (KHI) today observed the world hypertension day with a health outreach in the Bantama market. The volunteers educated sellers in the market while checking their blood pressures.
The women who were elated to have the volunteers with them in the market called out to the volunteers to visit their stands to check their blood pressure. In Ghana, one out of every four people between 25 years and 50 is living with high blood pressure.
For those who are above 50 years, one out of every two people is living with high blood pressure.
One is said to have high blood pressure when they record a blood pressure (BP) of above 140/90mmHg in the doctor’s office or above 130/80mmHg at home. About 27% of Ghanaians have hypertension, this translates into over 8 million Ghanaians.
While some people might be fortunate enough to have some symptoms such as blurred vision, dizziness, headaches, palpitations and others, most people do not have any symptoms at all when they have high blood pressure.
It was the need to get people sensitized market women about what high blood pressure can cause that gave a reason for the visit into the market. Market women are typically busy people who work all day and spend the night resting with very little time to spare for their health.
In all, almost hundred people checked their blood pressure. Led by the programs manager, Mr Sylvanus Gatorwu, the volunteers spend hours in the market with the women talking to them about high blood pressure, possible causes and the complications.
The women called for another visit from the volunteers who promised paying regular visits to the market.