In Cameroon, high blood pressure silently claims over 17,000 lives annually, affecting roughly one in three adults. Urban areas, particularly Yaoundé and Douala, report higher prevalence rates compared to rural and semi-urban regions. Shockingly, nearly 39% of adults aged 25 to 70 are grappling with this condition.
Dr. Romance Djoumessi, a cardiologist at Biyem-Assi District Hospital in Yaoundé, attributes the surge in cases to shifting lifestyle habits among Cameroonians. ‘The typical diet today is laden with excessive salt and unhealthy fats. Alcohol and tobacco consumption remain alarmingly high. Combined with genetic predispositions and aging, these factors have driven the numbers to unprecedented highs.’
Yaoundé alone is home to thousands of hypertension patients. One such individual is an 80-year-old resident of Nkolbikok, a neighborhood in the city’s sixth arrondissement, who continues to manage his condition under medical supervision.
Faustin Onana Ebodé’s story underscores the dangers of undiagnosed hypertension. After suffering a stroke, he shared his harrowing experience: ‘I nearly lost my life that day. I arrived home around 10 PM, only to feel an intense pressure in my chest. Within moments, I lost my speech and my left side became completely unresponsive. My wife, a nurse, rushed me to the hospital just in time. I had no idea I was living with hypertension.’
Health authorities and the Cameroon Society of Cardiology emphasize the urgency of lifestyle adjustments and early detection. Regular blood pressure screenings, at least twice a year, are strongly advised to mitigate severe complications.
