Lifestyles Transformed Thanks To Hypertension Program

by Betty Kazadi Musau

At Shungu Memorial Clinic in Kamina, Democratic Republic of Congo, medical doctors, nurses, matrons and pregnant women marched on the eve of World Hypertension Day (May 17) to continue raising awareness of hypertension to save lives. 

The hypertension program at Shungu Memorial Clinic is growing, and this is the fourth year that the medical personnel have been working to save not only pregnant women who come for hypertension testing but also anyone with a problem. 

With a media campaign and testing machines funded by Harper Hill Global, the clinic is well-equipped to monitor and deal with anyone having challenges with high blood pressure. Harper Hill has partnered with Colleagues in Care for several years on this initiative to raise hypertension awareness and promote ways to prevent it — specifically for expectant mothers.

“Pregnant women who usually come to the Shungu Clinic feel recognized for the celebration. Let us control hypertension together,” said Dr. Patrick Ilunga Kilunji, the clinic’s medical director.

This program is moving faster than the medical team has the ability to test patients, with locations not only in Kamina but also in Lwembe, Kasanya and Kanene villages around Kamina, where there are Methodist health centers.

In these areas, people face the challenges of limited access to basic health care, limited knowledge of hypertension, a lack of equipment to reach a large number of patients, and a shortage of medicine to treat high blood pressure. 

The program is personal for the Rev. Maloba Mulume wa Umba, superintendent of the Kamina District, because he has been the victim of hypertension himself. He suggested that the program be integrated with church evangelism and outreach to address and limit health issues in North Katanga.

Kilunji reported that so far the clinic has targeted 3,000 people and “every day we have new patients, and we have enlarged the tent to help people in Kamina and the surroundings.” 

On the eve of World Hypertension Day in Kamina, 150 patients were tested, with 37 testing positive for hypertension and treated at Shungu Clinic.

The following day, the medical team traveled from Kamina to Lwembe and Kasanya, where they tested 40 community members, of whom 27 tested positive for hypertension. In Kasanya, the medical team tested 192 people belonging to both United Methodist and Pentecostal churches. A total of 45 had high blood pressure — 40 of them United Methodists.

That Sunday was a very busy day in United Methodist churches in Kamina, as five local churches welcomed nurses and doctors from Shungu Clinic and Lupandilo. The message was targeted to women — particularly pregnant women, so that they know the cause of maternal death and symptoms of hypertension.

Pastor Ngoy Gerard, a nurse at Lupandilo health center, shared that last year, six women died from hypertension.

“I usually teach every Wednesday about what I call ‘the silent killer,’” he said. He also highlighted the work done by community health workers in Kamina.

“Through education and one-on-one conversation, as a nurse and pastor, we advise each other on prevention measures: low salt intake, no smoking, no alcohol, practice of physical training and adequate water intake,” he said. 

In Dean Scott local church, Gerard tested 56 people and only three men were positive.

Three pastors were tested and he invited both young men and women to start testing their blood pressure. He referred them to Lupandilo clinic for further treatment.

Kilunji said the reason for raising awareness among pastors is that hypertension is killing pastors in North Katanga, that is why mass awareness will be done door to door in the community and in the churches.

As a nurse and pastor, Gerard said he has observed that many pastors are stressed out when they come to annual conference and become anxious on the itineration.

Hypertension testing will be done for free for a month so that people can learn to identify the symptoms and get treatment. 

Jean Bobet Banza, a nurse from Lwembe, said it is rewarding to work with the community in villages. He hoped to continue amplifying his voice for the good health of the community by creating a platform to send messages to those who have phones, especially those who migrate during farming season. 

Nday Banza Jean Paul, a nurse from Kasanya, committed to work with the community by identifying challenges of transportation and communication: having a smart phone to keep data digitally and having a motorbike to reach pregnant women who live far from the health center.

People in Madagascar benefited from celebrating World Hypertension Day by mobilizing both pastors and laity in the local church.

Sariaka, a nurse from Madgascar, is building trust among church members to get tested with one machine only. The need of having a hypertension health center in Madagascar is high based on maternal death due to hypertension.

The United Methodist Church has a pastoral, political will to advocate, engage and change the lives of people. Through the powerful force of being human, we all transform lives in our respective areas.

The United Methodist Church is creating trust and confidence in communities to healing ministry. As a matter of fact, equipping both clergy and laity with healing skills will transform lives.

Through partnership, mutual collaboration and respect, hypertension program planners are so grateful for the donation to make the program happen. We dream, believe and do it together. 

For $2 a day, you can extend awareness and testing programs in rural locations in the DR Congo, Madagascar, Kenya, and Nigeria. Choose "Hearts United for Health" as your giving choice.

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To learn more on Harper Hill Global’s work to raise hypertension awareness, listen to this episode of the “Women Arise” podcast.