Dili, May 20, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The World Health Organization (WHO) in Timor-Leste commemorated World Hypertension Day with this year’s theme: “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer.” The event emphasized that timely monitoring of blood pressure can save lives.
The WHO Representative in Timor-Leste, Arvind Mathur, explained that high blood pressure often presents no warning signs until it is too late. Many people only discover they have hypertension after collapsing and being taken to the hospital.
“When we look at someone, we usually can’t tell. But in Timor-Leste, one in three adults carries a silent killer known as hypertension or high blood pressure. This condition opens the door to serious diseases like heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure, particularly among young people,” said Mathur.
He added that global data reveals hypertension causes 10.4 million deaths each year. In Timor-Leste, the age-standardized prevalence among adults aged 30–79 is 35% for men and 37% for women.
“This crisis is tragic because hypertension is entirely preventable. In a nation that has endured decades of conflict, we now face a new, invisible enemy, one born of changing diets, increased salt intake through processed foods, physical inactivity, and limited access to basic health services,” he stated.
He noted that the rising challenge in Timor-Leste relates to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially hypertension, which is increasingly detected only in advanced stages in rural areas, often after serious complications arise, leading to unnecessary suffering, hospitalization, and premature death.
“There is hope and progress, prevention is possible, and treatments are effective. Early detection through regular blood pressure monitoring, proper treatment, and lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk,” he added.
Mathur stressed that tackling this modern-day silent killer requires an integrated approach, combining health system responses, strengthening healthcare workforce capacities, and actively involving communities.
A key initiative, the 50×25 Program, launched by the Ministry of Health in 2024, aims to ensure 50,000 people with hypertension or diabetes receive regular treatment by 2025. This mission is implemented in collaboration with WHO and the World Diabetes Foundation, through targeted screening and continued care. “I commend the Ministry of Health and our partners for training health workers in Dili and Aileu to accelerate diagnosis and treatment,” he said.
He also highlighted the HEARTS Initiative, which continues to expand efforts to integrate hypertension prevention and control directly into primary healthcare systems, bringing services closer to underserved communities.
“Timor-Leste has adopted WHO’s Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (PEN), a cost-effective tool for early detection and management of chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases,” he added.
He emphasized strengthening the Integrated Health Program (PIS), which delivers basic health services at the community level, enhances specialist care, and improves the referral system at the community level.
On this World Hypertension Day, the public, from the mountains to the coast is urged to take control of their blood pressure. People are encouraged to visit health posts, talk to doctors, and motivate others to undergo a simple test to detect the disease early. This can help prevent hypertension, strokes, or heart attacks from threatening lives in the future.
Report: Nelfiano
Photo: WHO Timor-Leste Media