WHO urges regular blood pressure checks as people collapse, die suddenly across country

Health

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria, has urged Nigerians to prioritise regular blood pressure checks, warning that high blood pressure, or hypertension, often has no warning signs but can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness, dementia and other serious complications.

The advisory comes amid growing concerns over reports of people collapsing and dying suddenly across the country.

In a notice released on Tuesday titled “Blood Pressure Measurement Checklist,” WHO Nigeria advised that the blood pressure of all adults aged 18 years and above should be measured, while stressing the importance of obtaining accurate readings.

Advertisement

The health body advised Nigerians to:

• Avoid talking during and between measurements.
• Avoid exercise, tea, coffee and smoking for at least 30 minutes before measurement.
• Rest for five minutes before taking a reading.
• Record the exact reading displayed by a digital device without rounding it off.

Correct cuff size and positioning

WHO also stressed the importance of using the correct cuff size and positioning it properly during blood pressure measurement.

According to the advisory:

1. The cuff length should be at least 80 per cent of the patient’s arm circumference.
2. The cuff width should be at least 40 per cent of the patient’s upper-arm circumference.
3. The cuff should be placed on the bare arm or over a thin layer of clothing, with clothes underneath it not bunched up.
4. The cuff should be emptied before each reading.

The organisation’s illustration also recommends that the person being tested should sit with their back supported, feet supported and legs uncrossed, while the arm should be supported with the cuff positioned at heart level.

WHO Nigeria said a simple blood pressure check could help save lives, but stressed that accurate measurements were essential.

WHO warns of late leprosy detection in Nigeria

In a separate health advisory, WHO Nigeria warned that too many people affected by leprosy continue to experience delayed diagnosis, disability and stigma.

The organisation said Nigeria detected 2,482 new leprosy cases in 2025, including children and people already living with Grade 2 disability, describing the figures as signs that transmission continues and that some cases are being diagnosed too late.

The warning was issued during a strategic dialogue in Abuja held during the visit of the President of Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative. The meeting brought together WHO Nigeria, the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Sasakawa Health Foundation/Leprosy Initiative, ILEP partners, IDEA Nigeria, the FCT TB and Leprosy Programme, civil society groups and people affected by leprosy.

A testimony from a person affected by leprosy, who was reportedly excluded from school and discriminated against before receiving the correct diagnosis, highlighted the impact of stigma and missed diagnosis.

Partners at the dialogue called for community-based surveillance and active case finding, contact screening and early referral, integrated skin-NTD services, stronger health-worker capacity and meaningful involvement of people affected by leprosy.

They also advocated the responsible use of digital and artificial intelligence tools to support, rather than replace, trained health workers.

WHO Nigeria said stronger government leadership and collaboration among partners could help Nigeria end leprosy transmission and reduce the disability, stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.

The organisation stressed that actively searching for missing cases and listening to people affected by leprosy would be essential to making the country’s response more effective.