The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm on the growing problem of hypertension in the Southeast Asia Region (SEARO), stating that almost half of the people with hypertension in the region are unaware of their condition. As a result, there is an urgent need to scale up efforts to prevent, detect, and control hypertension in the region.According to the WHO, hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death and disability in the region. In fact, hypertension is responsible for more than 7 million deaths each year worldwide, with the majority of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.To address this growing problem, the WHO is urging governments, health providers, and the private sector to increase their efforts to prevent, detect, and control hypertension. This includes adopting policies that support hypertension prevention and management, increasing access to affordable healthcare services, and increasing public awareness of the importance of good cardiovascular health.One key element of the WHO's strategy for scaling up hypertension services in the SEARO region is the use of mobile healthcare technologies. Mobile phones and other digital devices can be used to track blood pressure readings and provide patients with personalized advice on how to manage their hypertension. This approach has been shown to be effective in other parts of the world and can be an important tool in the fight against hypertension in the SEARO region.In addition to innovative healthcare technologies, the WHO is also calling on governments and healthcare providers to ensure that essential medicines for hypertension are available and affordable to all people in the region who need them. This includes developing effective procurement and distribution systems for these medicines and removing barriers that prevent people from accessing them.At the same time, the private sector has an important role to play in the fight against hypertension. The WHO is urging pharmaceutical companies to invest in the development of affordable, high-quality medicines for hypertension and to work with governments and other stakeholders to ensure that these medicines are accessible to all people in the region.In conclusion, the WHO's call to scale up efforts to prevent, detect, and control hypertension in the SEARO region is an urgent and important one. With almost half of the people with hypertension unaware of their condition, there is a critical need to increase awareness of this silent killer and to provide people with the tools and resources they need to manage their hypertension and reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. By working together and adopting innovative healthcare technologies and policies, governments, healthcare providers, and the private sector can help to turn the tide on hypertension in the SEARO region and beyond.
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