Act Now to Save Lives

Zambia urged to intensify hypertension prevention and curb tobacco harm through urgent Tobacco Control Bill action

By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (5-5-2026) -- Zambia must take hypertension seriously, reduce tobacco harm, and act now—starting with signing the Tobacco Control Bill into law—while citizens also take responsibility for knowing and managing their blood pressure.

Brenda Chitindi, a member of the Zambia Heart and Stroke Foundation, has called for urgent national action to address the growing burden of high blood pressure.

She warned that the condition remains a “silent killer” affecting thousands of people across the country.

“High blood pressure is a silent killer. It has no symptoms, yet it is one of the leading causes of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure in Zambia,” Chitindi said.

She made the remarks in Lusaka during May Measurement Month 2026, a global campaign led by the International Society of Hypertension, which promotes widespread blood pressure screening under the theme “Know Your Numbers.”

Chitindi urged President to sign the Tobacco Control Bill, saying its enactment would be a major step in reducing preventable deaths linked to hypertension.

“Parliament has already supported the Tobacco Control Bill. Signing it into law will save lives by reducing tobacco use and protecting future generations,” she said.

She warned that high blood pressure remains Zambia’s leading controllable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, yet many cases go undetected due to limited screening and late diagnosis.

Chitindi said the condition is increasingly affecting rural communities, low-income households, and younger populations, challenging the perception that hypertension is limited to older or urban populations.

“Too many people are dying at home without ever knowing they had hypertension,” she said.

She further identified tobacco use as a major driver of the crisis, noting that both active smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke significantly increase blood pressure and the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

“Every cigarette raises blood pressure immediately and damages vital organs, including the heart, lungs, brain and kidneys,” she said.

Chitindi said the Tobacco Control Bill would help reduce tobacco consumption, especially among young people, protect non-smokers from exposure, and ease pressure on Zambia’s health system.

She added that the legislation would also align Zambia with global efforts to combat non-communicable diseases, which continue to place increasing strain on healthcare services.

Chitindi urged citizens to take personal responsibility during May Measurement Month by checking their blood pressure and reducing exposure to key risk factors such as tobacco.

“Let’s do more than know our numbers—let’s act. Tobacco is one of the biggest preventable drivers of hypertension,” she said.