Zimbabwe's hypertension epidemic

When 54-year-old Sharon Moyo collapsed while hanging laundry outside her home in Mbare, she assumed stress and fatigue were to blame. A visit to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals revealed a far more serious problem — dangerously high blood pressure.

Moyo's experience reflects a growing public health challenge in Zimbabwe, where hypertension is increasingly emerging as one of the country's most significant yet under-detected health threats.

Data from the May Measurement Month (MMM) 2021 campaign found that 37.3% of adults screened had hypertension. However, only 49.7% of those affected were aware of their condition, while just 45% were receiving treatment.

Health experts warn that hypertension often develops without noticeable symptoms, earning it the reputation of a "silent killer." Left untreated, it can cause severe complications including stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and other life-threatening conditions.

According to national estimates, hypertension affects between one-third and four out of every ten Zimbabwean adults. Despite these high prevalence rates, routine screening remains inconsistent across many health facilities.

Medical practitioners say Zimbabwe's successful HIV testing model offers valuable lessons. Over the past two decades, widespread HIV testing became routine through sustained investment, community outreach and reliable treatment programmes. In contrast, blood pressure screening often depends on available equipment, staffing levels and resources.

Healthcare workers cite several factors driving rising hypertension rates, including unhealthy diets, excessive salt consumption, physical inactivity, chronic stress and increasing urbanisation. Economic hardships and limited access to healthcare services in rural communities have also contributed to the growing burden.

The challenge extends beyond urban areas. Community screening programmes in rural districts have uncovered large numbers of previously undiagnosed cases, demonstrating that hypertension affects people across different age groups, body types and locations.

Experts are calling for greater investment in routine blood pressure screening, public awareness campaigns and reliable supplies of antihypertensive medication. They argue that making blood pressure checks a standard part of every clinic visit could help identify thousands of cases before complications occur.

While Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health has acknowledged non-communicable diseases as a growing concern, health professionals say more data, funding and resources are needed to strengthen prevention and treatment efforts.

For patients like Moyo, early diagnosis has been life-changing. Now on daily medication and attending regular check-ups, she encourages others to get tested before symptoms become severe.

"Don't wait until you collapse," she says. "A blood pressure check only takes a few minutes, but it could save your life."