Port Shepstone Hospital saves lives through early screening campaign
Hypertension is a high risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, renal disease and blindness.
Fifty-six local patients underwent screening as part of a Hypertension Awareness Campaign organised by Port Shepstone Regional Hospital’s HIV-Aids, STI and TB Department (HAST) and the outpatient department (OPD) staff.
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The hospital’s PRO, Phumza Morai, said that hypertension was a high risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, renal disease and blindness. “It frequently co-exists with other chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity and this can result in extensive target organ damage and premature death, especially if these conditions are uncontrolled. The aim of the Hypertension Awareness Campaign was to screen and provide community members with information and knowledge on chronic diseases especially, hypertension,” explained Ms Morai.
Matron Risha Pillay, the facilitator of the campaign, said that people who have hypertension are usually unaware that they have the condition. “This is why it is important for the public to get screened for hypertension at health care facilities at least once a year – without waiting until a person is sick. On this day, community members were screened for hypertension, diabetes, HIV/Aids, TB, and mental health,” said Mrs Pillay.
Five patients had problems and were referred to the hospital gateway clinic for further management and treatment. Three had extremely high blood pressure.
One had severe depression and another one was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Of the 56 clients screened, thirteen were screened for HIV.
“Testing for diseases is extremely important because it allows for early detection and intervention. The figures that we have from this testing awareness campaign once again demonstrate why it is important for people to get screened and tested for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension. These diseases are silent killers,” Mrs Pillay pointed out.
“Had these people not come forward, they would not have known where they stood regarding their health. Those who were found to have these ailments would probably have found out only when these diseases were at an advanced stage, when it would have been too late to intervene. That is why we urge the public to get into the habit of regular health screening and testing,” added Ms Pillay.
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