Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
BAYELSA, Nigeria – The Bayelsa hypertension cases have become a growing public health concern as the state government warns that many residents are only diagnosed after developing life-threatening complications, prompting authorities to strengthen early detection and awareness programmes.
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, raised the concern on Thursday in Yenagoa while presenting the Ministry of Health’s mid-year performance scorecard to journalists. He said recent health screenings conducted by the ministry revealed worrying levels of hypertension among participants, underscoring the need for routine health checks.
According to Brisibe, the ministry’s previous hypertension and diabetes screening exercise recorded hypertension rates of between 10 and 15 per cent among those screened. He clarified that the figures applied only to participants in the exercise and should not be interpreted as the overall prevalence of hypertension across Bayelsa State.
The commissioner said older adults, particularly residents aged 45 years and above, recorded higher rates of hypertension, with men showing slightly higher figures than women.
Brisibe attributed the late diagnosis of many cases to poor public awareness and irregular medical check-ups.
“Many residents do not check their blood pressure or blood sugar levels until they begin experiencing symptoms,” he said.»
He warned that hypertension can remain undetected for years without noticeable symptoms, making regular screening essential even for people who appear healthy.
To improve early diagnosis, the state government is integrating blood pressure checks into routine healthcare services across public health facilities. Brisibe also announced that residents in Yenagoa can now access free blood pressure screening at designated emergency ambulance points.
The initiative will also be expanded to riverine communities through the state’s boat ambulance programme, allowing residents in remote areas to benefit from basic health screening services.
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