In a sobering update on the state of public health, the Lagos State Ministry of Health has revealed that approximately six million residents are currently living with hypertension. Perhaps most alarming is the fact that the vast majority of these individuals are completely unaware that their health is at risk.
The Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, shared these figures during a recent leadership dialogue hosted by the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board. The gathering, which included health administrators and local council leaders, was designed to find ways to bolster the state’s frontline medical services. The data indicates that 20 percent of the state’s 30 million residents are hypertensive, yet roughly 4.2 million of them have never been diagnosed or sought treatment.
Professor Abayomi described hypertension, along with diabetes and obesity, as “silent killers.” These conditions often progress quietly without any obvious symptoms until they trigger severe, life-altering complications. The Commissioner pointed out that the current lack of awareness is a primary driver behind the rising cases of heart failure, kidney disease, and strokes currently overwhelming the state’s larger hospitals.
The state government is now emphasizing that many of these medical emergencies are entirely preventable. By shifting the focus toward primary healthcare centers, officials hope to catch these conditions early. Simple, routine checks such as regular blood pressure monitoring and blood sugar testing could save thousands of lives if residents make them a habit.
Beyond medical testing, the ministry is also pushing for better lifestyle counseling and weight management at the community level. The goal is to ensure that every Lagosian has access to basic screening close to home, turning the tide against a health crisis that thrives on silence and a lack of information.
