By ABUJAH RACHEAL

Hypertension continues to pose a major public health challenge in Nigeria, affecting an estimated 35 per cent to 40 per cent of adults in 2025, according to the State of Health of the Nation Report 2025.

The report, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, is produced in line with the National Health Act (2014).

The report noted that although the prevalence of high blood pressure remained high, awareness of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases improved in 2025 compared with 2024, following intensified advocacy by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and professional health bodies.

It said the inclusion of non-communicable disease (NCD) screening within selected primary healthcare facilities and community outreach programmes contributed to incremental gains in the early detection of hypertension and diabetes particularly among men aged between 15 years and 59 years.

The report said that Family Health Department of the ministry also began integrating men’s health more deliberately into the national health system to address specific health risks affecting the male population.

The report further highlighted the growing burden of mental health and substance abuse disorders among men, noting that an estimated 14 million Nigerians lived with a history of drug use

It added that government-led prevention campaigns and collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency were intensified in 2025 to strengthen public awareness and early intervention.

The report also noted progress in the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare, with more than 3,000 primary healthcare workers trained across states to identify common mental health conditions and strengthen referral systems.

According to the report, in spite of improvements in awareness and screening efforts, significant gaps remain in early diagnosis, service utilisation and screening coverage, particularly for non-communicable diseases among men.

It stressed the need for sustained investments in primary healthcare services, health promotion and preventive care to reduce the burden of hypertension and other NCDs in Nigeria.

NAN reports that the State of Health of the Nation Report provides an annual assessment of Nigeria’s health sector performance, highlighting progress, challenges and priority actions across key health programmes and services nationwide. (NAN)

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