Rethinking Hypertension Care in Africa: New Guidelines Put Primary Care at the Centre
Bringing hypertension prevention, detection, and care closer to where people live and work Meet Adjoa Mansa, a 52-year-old trader who spends most of her days at a busy market. She considers herself healthy and rarely visits a health facility unless she feels unwell. During a community health screening at the market, a nurse checks Adjoa’s blood pressure and finds that it is very high. She has never been diagnosed with hypertension and has no symptoms. “I feel fine,” she says. “How can I have high blood pressure?” She is referred to a nearby health centre, where a trained nurse prescriber ...
Why Cardiometabolic and Mental Health Multimorbidity Matters in Primary Care
More than one condition, one patient, one opportunity for better care Imagine visiting a primary healthcare clinic because your blood pressure has been difficult to control. During the consultation, you also mention poor sleep, persistent tiredness, and losing interest in activities you once enjoyed. While your blood pressure receives attention, your emotional wellbeing may go unnoticed. This is one of the challenges faced by people living with cardiometabolic and mental health multimorbidity – the presence of cardiometabolic and mental health conditions in the same person. What is multimorbidity? Multimorbidity refers to having two or more long-term health conditions. Cardiometabolic conditions ...