May & Baker worries over rising cases of HBP among Nigerians

By Chioma Obinna

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Pharm. Patrick Ajah, has raised alarm over the growing burden of hypertension in Nigeria, warning that millions of Nigerians are living with dangerously high blood pressure without knowing it.

Ajah who spoke in Lagos during the Walk for Life 2026 organised by the company to commemorate World Hypertension Day also lamented that the rising energy costs is hurting drug prices as the company spends N170m monthly on factory power.

The event, themed “Controlling Hypertension Together,” featured a health walk, free blood pressure and blood sugar screening, medical consultations, fitness activities and health talks in collaboration with the Ikeja 1 NYSC Medical CDS Group and other stakeholders.

Speaking during the exercise, Ajah described hypertension as a “silent killer,” disclosing that many Nigerians discovered during previous screenings had dangerously high blood pressure levels, including readings as high as 200 over 120.

“Many Nigerians are walking the streets every day without knowing that they have hypertension. Some of the results we see are frightening. We have seen cases where people’s blood pressure ranges from 200 over 120, which is almost a killer.”

He said the situation was particularly alarming among low-income earners and market women who rarely go for medical checks because of rising healthcare costs.

“Most market women are very hypertensive, but they don’t check. It is getting worse because many people cannot afford hospital bills anymore,” he stated.

He said worsening economic hardship and stress are contributing significantly to the rising cases of hypertension across the country.

“With the condition of the country, stress levels are high, and stress increases the tendency for hypertension. The burden is a lot more than it used to be,” Ajah added.

The May & Baker boss warned that hypertension becomes more dangerous when combined with diabetes, describing both conditions as a dangerous alliance responsible for increasing cases of stroke, kidney failure and sudden deaths.

“In medical school, we were taught that hypertension and diabetes form a dangerous alliance. When somebody is hypertensive and diabetic, it kills faster,” he said.

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