World Hypertension Day: Nigerians living with deadly BP – May&Baker warns

By Chioma Obinna

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Pharm. Patrick Ajah, on Friday raised alarm over the growing burden of hypertension in Nigeria, warning that millions of Nigerians are living with dangerously high blood pressure without knowing it.

Ajah, who spoke in Lagos during the Walk for Life 2026 organised by the company to commemorate World Hypertension Day, also lamented that rising energy costs are hurting drug prices, as the company spends N170m monthly on factory power.

The event, themed “Controlling Hypertension Together,” featured a health walk, free blood pressure and blood sugar screening, medical consultations, fitness activities, and health talks in collaboration with the Ikeja 1 NYSC Medical CDS Group and other stakeholders.

Speaking during the exercise, Ajah described hypertension as a “silent killer,” disclosing that many Nigerians discovered during previous screenings had dangerously high blood pressure levels, including readings as high as 200 over 120.

“Many Nigerians are walking the streets every day without knowing that they have hypertension,” he said.

“Some of the results we see are frightening. We have seen cases where people’s blood pressure ranges from 200 over 120, which is almost a killer.”

He said the situation was particularly alarming among low-income earners and market women who rarely go for medical checks because of rising healthcare costs.

“Most market women are very hypertensive, but they don’t check. It is getting worse because many people cannot afford hospital bills anymore,” he stated.

According to him, worsening economic hardship and stress are contributing significantly to the rising cases of hypertension across the country.

“With the condition of the country, stress levels are high, and stress increases the tendency for hypertension. The burden is a lot more than it used to be,” Ajah added.

The May & Baker boss warned that hypertension becomes more dangerous when combined with diabetes, describing both conditions as a dangerous alliance responsible for increasing cases of stroke, kidney failure, and sudden deaths.

“In medical school, we were taught that hypertension and diabetes form a dangerous alliance. When somebody is hypertensive and diabetic, it kills faster,” he said.

“That is why we don’t just check blood pressure here, we also check blood sugar.”

Ajah stressed that hypertension treatment is lifelong and warned patients against abandoning medications once their blood pressure appears stable.

“People need to understand that hypertension is not like malaria that you treat and it disappears. Once diagnosed, especially above 40, you are likely going to be on medication for life,” he explained.

“Many people stop taking their drugs once their blood pressure becomes controlled. That is dangerous.”

He urged Nigerians, especially those aged 35 and above, to regularly monitor their blood pressure and blood sugar levels, reduce salt intake, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Ajah also lamented the rising cost of drug production in Nigeria, revealing that soaring energy costs and infrastructure challenges are affecting pharmaceutical manufacturers and ultimately increasing medicine prices.

“Before 2023, we spent about N65 million monthly on power in our factory. Right now, it is costing about N170 million every month,” he disclosed.

“So whether we like it or not, those costs will affect medicine prices.”

He, however, commended the Federal Government for approving duty-free importation of pharmaceutical raw materials, saying the policy helped manufacturers avoid additional drug price increases.

“When the executive order came, we suspended a planned price increase. It probably saved about 10 to 15 per cent on medicine costs,” he said.

Ajah further called on government to improve healthcare infrastructure, make medicines more affordable and address the worsening brain drain in the health sector.

“These days, people get to hospitals and wait for hours before seeing doctors because many doctors have left the country. Government needs to do more to encourage them to stay.”

Speaking, the Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Comrade Akeem Olalekan Dauda, commended May & Baker for the initiative and urged stronger collaboration between private organisations and government in promoting public health.

“This is public good governance. What you are doing is part of corporate social responsibility and I encourage you to continue partnering with government so our people can enjoy more healthcare support,” Dauda said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Bose Ayo, praised the organisers after receiving free medical screening and treatment during the outreach.

“I checked my blood pressure and sugar levels and everything is fine. The doctors also attended to my cough and gave me medication,” she said.

“I pray they continue doing this for people like us who cannot afford hospital bills.”

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