By Duncan Mlanjira

Copyright maraviexpress

As MUNA, we cannot ignore this. Too many lives are lost globally because of unchecked high blood pressure and that has to change and it begins with us

* This campaign is not only about increasing awareness — it is about leadership; taking responsibility and driving action

* As professionals, as a community and as nurses, we stand united to say; ‘Check It; Know It & Control It’ — that change begins with us today

By Duncan Mlanjira

Malawian-UK Nurses Association (MUNA) is on a vibrant awareness campaign on dangers of not knowing the level of one’s blood pressure, emphasising that hypertension is a silent killer globally — and Malawi is not spared from this threat.

MUNA is a grouping of nurses of Malawian origin permanently resident in the United Kingdom (UK), and its president, Charity Gladstone, MBE, is leading the campaign video clip that is in circulation, saying: “High blood pressure is a silent killer, it comes with no pain, no warning but it’s a life-threatening.

“As MUNA, we cannot ignore this. Too many lives are lost globally because of unchecked high blood pressure and that has to change and it begins with us. This campaign is not only about increasing awareness — it is about leadership; taking responsibility and driving action.

“As professionals, as a community and as nurses, we stand united to say; ‘Check It; Know It & Control It’ — that change begins with us today,” says Gladstone, a Lately Matron of Cardiology & Respiratory Services at Gloucestershire Hospital of the United Kingdom’s National Health Services (NHS) — who was bestowed with the prestigious Order of the British Empire (MBE) award in 2023 by His Majesty King Charles III for her services to nursing.

Other MUNA executive members include Patrick Vundule, Stella Mwanza and Sala Kamkosi, who are also in the campaign video, attesting to the fact that high blood pressure (HBP) is a silent killer — highlighting that 1 in 3 adults in the UK has HBP and “most don’t even know it”.

“In Malawi, the challenge is even greater with too little screening for treatment. Hypertension does not care about age, worth, or status; it touches all of us, but one small act changes everything.

“Awareness saves life — co check it, know it, know it and control it; together we can beat the silent killer,” continues the awareness video, adding that “behind every statistic, there is a loved one — a father struck by stroke, a sister battling with heart failure, a friend gone too soon.

“Too often, the first sign of high blood pressure is a tragedy — that is why this campaign is personal. It is about protecting families, saving futures, giving all people more healthy years to live and thrive.

“So what can we do? Start with an action today — check your blood pressure, then make small choices that will protect your heart. Eat less salt, move more, manage stress, stop smoking and cut down on alcohol consumption.

“We as Malawi UK Nurses Association, are taking this to our communities, at churches, at events and social gatherings — leading by example because change starts with us.

“Together we can turn the tide here in the UK, back home in Malawi, because every blood pressure check is an opportunity to save lives,” says MUNA with an emphasis — to get the BP checked and if it is high, consult a doctor to start treatment.

“Do not wait, do not delay — let us spread the word loud and clear because your health matters, your community matters and together, we can we can beat the silent killer.”

In recent months, there have been sudden deaths of prominent people attributed to hypertension and while the records are for those with prominence, the rural communities mortality rate is rarely chronicled but according to sources in the health sector, the death rate from high blood pressure is high.