Early detection and management of high blood pressure is critical to reduce heart attacks, strokes, and premature death. But high blood pressure often has no symptoms, and people don’t always know they have it.
A new publication in Global Heart’s Lessons from the Field co-authored by technical experts at Resolve to Save Lives spotlights how the Ethiopian government and local partners worked together to expand awareness of high blood pressure in the country.
The challenge:
In Ethiopia, 11 million people are estimated to be living with high blood pressure—but less than half are aware of it. addressed this issue.
The solution:
To address this issue, the Ethiopian government implemented a quality improvement initiative in six primary healthcare facilities to make blood pressure screening a part of routine care. They now measure every adult’s blood pressure at every health facility visit, regardless of the reason for the visit.
The impact:
In less than a year, monthly blood pressure screening of adults doubled from 41% to 80%. In the same timeframe, monthly enrollments in the hypertension program more than tripled between April 2024 and February 2025.
The key takeaway:
Supporting primary health care systems to screen the blood pressure of all adults visiting healthcare facilities leads to better detection and treatment for high blood pressure—and more patients receiving care. Ethiopia is now scaling this approach to improve blood pressure screening in program facilities across the country.
