The Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) is doing its part to promote blood pressure awareness and measurement during the whole of May Measurement Month (MMM) and on World Hypertension Day on 17 May.
HART is supporting the 2021 May Measurement Month through various projects specifically aimed at encouraging the general public to have their blood pressure measured. This screening is a free service that provides the ideal opportunity to find out what your blood pressure level is and to learn how not to become another fatal hypertension statistic.
The activities started on 1 and 2 May with the #ProPotch NWU extreme weekend at Lekwena and will continue with various blood pressure screenings in public places in and around Potchefstroom in mid-May, in Mahikeng at the end of May and in the Vaal Triangle in June.
HART will offer screenings at coffee shops, in malls and at the Potchefstroom Dienssentrum.
Prof Carina Mels, director of the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), says they are asking people in all parts of South Africa to find out how and where they can get tested. This can be done by visiting https://maymeasure.org. “Here they will find an interactive map that shows where their local screening centre is and also how they can test themselves at home.”
More about MMM
2021 is the fourth year in which the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) is presenting the worldwide May Measurement Month, a global campaign aimed at raising awareness of high blood pressure.
The ISH says raised blood pressure, or hypertension, is the single biggest risk factor responsible for deaths globally. It is estimated that in South Africa alone, one in every three adults has raised blood pressure. This can result in serious long-term complications if untreated.
According to the ISH, the majority of people with hypertension are either completely unaware of actually having it and are untreated, or are on treatment that is not effectively controlling their condition. The condition has no noticeable symptoms and blood pressure measurement is the only accurate way of identifying hypertension.
From May until the end of the year, volunteers will measure the blood pressure of people in their cities, towns and villages globally. Prof Mels says HART is proud to be part of May Measurement Month in South Africa. “We want all participants to know their blood pressure levels and anyone who is registered as hypertensive is given advice about what to do next.”
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the international office of MMM has decided to continue the campaign for blood pressure measurement beyond May until October.
Measure your blood pressure on these days:
Toro Coffee Shop – 14, 21, 28 May
Die Koeltetuin – 15 May
NWU amphitheatre – 17 May (World Hypertension Day)
Service Centre for the elderly – 18 May
NWU’s campus in Mahikeng – 26 May, in collaboration with Lifestyle Diseases and Prof Useh
NWU’s campus in Vanderbijlpark – 23 June
Ikageng Mall – date to be announced
For more information about screening in and around Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark, please contact Carina.Mels@nwu.ac.za.
