By Uzair Adam
The Kano State Government has expanded its hypertension prevention and treatment services to 208 Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities across the 44 local government areas of the state, according to the Ministry of Health.
The initiative, which builds on an earlier pilot phase, was launched under the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to strengthen early detection and management of hypertension — a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, and premature deaths in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Nabilusi Abubakar K/Na’isa, said the expansion followed the successful implementation of the programme in 52 PHCs under the National Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI).
He explained that the initiative, with technical support from Resolve to Save Lives and Project HOPE, has now been scaled up to 208 facilities to ensure more residents have access to regular blood pressure checks, treatment, and follow-up care within their communities.
Quoting the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, the statement noted that the government’s decision reflects its commitment to strengthening the primary healthcare system and addressing non-communicable diseases across the state.
Dr. Yusuf commended the dedication of health workers participating in the programme and urged them to sustain their efforts to ensure lasting success in hypertension prevention and control.
“The scale-up of hypertension services across 208 PHCs demonstrates Kano’s leadership in improving access to essential care. This should serve as a model for other states in advancing equitable and sustainable health services,” the commissioner said.
The Ministry expressed optimism that the initiative will help prevent costly complications, reduce hospital admissions, and promote healthier, more productive lives for Kano residents.