NTH hosts vital community health awareness campaign

“There could be other factors that trigger a rise in blood pressure. However, when it comes to pregnant women, the readings should not go beyond the 140/90 range,” Dr Phiri explained.

He warned that higher blood pressure can cause a pregnant woman to develop a severe and potentially dangerous condition known as eclampsia.

In addition to screening for hypertension and diabetes, which are among the leading causes of hospital visits in Zambia, the national health awareness month also featured mental health advocacy.

This initiative focused on improving the understanding of mental health and encouraging people to seek help when needed.

With the Copperbelt Province remaining one of the country’s epicenters for HIV infections, medical personnel were also on hand to offer confidential HIV counseling and testing. Zambia currently has over one million people living with HIV.

Jackson Chirwa, a Ndola resident, commended the Ministry of Health for the initiative.

“It was gratifying to see patients being screened for suspected high blood pressure and diabetes right within the community. These are services that people usually have to queue up for hours to receive at the hospital,” Mr Chirwa said.

“Bringing confidential counseling and HIV testing to people’s doorsteps helps individuals know their status and make informed health decisions.”

NTH management stated that alongside HIV testing, prostate screenings and public education on NCDs were widely provided during the outreach.

“The prostate testing was aimed at creating awareness and encouraging men to take proactive steps toward the early detection and management of prostate-related conditions. Furthermore, we provided vital information on how to prevent and manage lifestyle-related diseases like hypertension and diabetes,” NTH stated.