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Rural KZN can now receive hypertension care in their homes.
A clinical trial conducted in the rural setting of KwaZulu-Natal has shown that Hypertension patients can safely and effectively manage this chronic condition in their own homes, when supported through technology and home-based care.
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The clinical trial, called the “Impact-BP Trial” was conducted by the Africa Health Research Institute and the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
The trial was conducted on 774 participants and the majority of them were women above 62 years of age and among them was 73-year-old Kelina Donda and 68-year-old Nokwenziwa Nsele.
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“I have a mat-knitting machine which requires me to use my hands a lot. This is a great form of exercise whenever I feel my hands are getting numb. I also try to collect small amounts of wood and I clean my yard just to keep active. I do suffer from back ache and my knees swell, but since I have been part of this programme, I am much better. My blood pressure is now normal as I monitor it every day,” says a participant.
“This programme has really played a major role in our lives as the elderly people. We didn’t have to worry about waiting in long queues at the clinic. This is because the AHRI healthcare workers conducted home visits and they would help us with our medication,” says another participant.
Researchers and health experts say controlling hypertension remains a global problem despite it being a condition which can be prevented and treated.
Professor Nombulelo Magula from the University of KwaZulu-Natal says many people are unaware that they have the condition, which is often diagnosed only after complications, such as heart or kidney disease.
“By bringing community health workers, and bringing medications to the patients, improvement in 12 months are more than 80%,” says Magula.
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