01 Jun 2026

The line outside the screening hall moved steadily as employees from the Ministry for State President, Defence and Security, waited patiently to have their blood pressure checked.

Some chatted casually with colleagues while others nervously rolled up their sleeves, uncertain of what the results might reveal.

For many attending the ministry’s Hypertension Awareness Day in Gaborone on Friday, the event became more than just another workplace wellness campaign, but a life-changing wake-up call.

Mr One Masinyane, who had attended simply to support the programme, left visibly shaken after discovering that his blood pressure was dangerously high.

“I never thought anything was wrong because I felt healthy,” he admitted quietly after he was advised to seek immediate medical attention.

His experience reflects the frightening reality of hypertension, commonly known as, the silent killer.The condition often develops without noticeable symptoms, quietly damaging vital organs such as the heart, brain and kidneys until a stroke, heart attack or another serious complication suddenly occurs.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the acting permanent secretary, Mr Kelebogile Boikanyo, stressed the urgent need for collective action in tackling hypertension, which continued to pose a public health challenge in Botswana and across the world.

Held under the theme: Controlling Hypertension Together, the awareness campaign brought together healthcare professionals, ministry employees and medical organisations committed to promoting preventive healthcare.

Mr Boikanyo said the theme highlighted the shared responsibility of individuals, families, communities, employers and healthcare workers in reducing the growing burden of hypertension.

Quoting findings from the 2024 Botswana NCD STEP Survey, he revealed that approximately 40 per cent of adults in Botswana were affected by hypertension.

He warned that the condition often developed silently while progressively damaging vital organs.

“Regular health screenings and healthier lifestyle choices are critical in preventing hypertension and its complications,” he said.

He urged employees to adopt healthier habits such as maintaining balanced diets, engaging in regular physical activity, reducing alcohol consumption and avoiding tobacco use.

Representative from Circle Point Medical Clinic, Dr Wame Dikobe, shed further light on the causes, risks and prevention of hypertension.

Dr Dikobe explained that hypertension occurred when blood pressure remained consistently elevated over time, noting that the ideal blood pressure reading was 120/80 mmHg or lower.

Highlighting the global scale of the crisis, she cited the World Health Organization statistics showing that approximately 1.28 billion adults worldwide were living with hypertension.

In Botswana, she said the STEPS Survey estimated that nearly 29 per cent of adults were affected.

She identified major risk factors including smoking, obesity, excessive salt intake, family history, diabetes and kidney disease.

Workplace-related factors such as prolonged sitting, stress and poor eating habits, she added, were becoming increasingly common contributors among employees.

“Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to severe complications such as stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and vision loss,” warned Dr Dikobe.

However, she emphasised that the condition could be prevented and effectively managed through lifestyle changes, regular monitoring and early medical intervention.

She encouraged employees to embrace healthier living habits as balanced nutrition, routine exercise and participation in workplace wellness programmes, including regular screening initiatives and walking breaks during working hours.

Senior manager, Mr Lovemore Mawila, echoed calls for stronger collaboration in combating hypertension.

Expressing concern over the condition’s high prevalence, he urged people to prioritise routine health checks, particularly men, who were often reluctant to seek medical attention until complications arose.

The day featured free health screening services, including blood pressure checks, diabetes testing, BMI and body composition assessments, as well as eye examinations.

For many who attended, the event served as a reminder that hypertension does not always announce itself with warning signs, sometimes, it waits silently until it is almost too late. ends