By Our Writer
Ministry of Health in partnership with AstraZeneca and the Uganda Protestant Bureau (UPMB), has unveiled an extension of the Healthy Heart Africa (HHA) programme that will tackle the burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) as well as hypertension and cardiovascular disease in Uganda.
Initially focused on hypertension, this expansion underscores AstraZeneca’s dedication to confronting the burden of non-communicable disease and improving health outcomes for people throughout Africa.
Uganda’s Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero said that the expansion of the Healthy Heart Africa programme for another two years to address chronic kidney disease in Uganda is timely and represents a significant advancement in the country’s healthcare landscape.
“ Through strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca and the Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau (UPMB) , we are steadfast in our commitment to improving access to high-quality healthcare services and fostering improved health outcomes for all Ugandans. Supported by concerted governmental efforts, we will redouble our endeavours to educate communities about hypertension symptoms and risk factors, underscoring the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles,” Aceng stated.
Aceng called upon Ugandans to under take periodic screening to detect the increasing cases of None Communicable Diseases such as kidney disease , diabetes and hypertension among others -to ensure proper treatment and save lives .
“Health is a personal responsibility and we must step forward to fight NCDs”, she stressed.
Dr Tonny Tumwesigye Executive Director, Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau, noted that the integration of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) protocol into Uganda’s healthcare framework marked a critical advancement.
“ Given the considerable burden of kidney disease in Uganda and its associated traditional risk factors, a united effort is necessary. With AstraZeneca’s scientific expertise and the government’s instrumental role in policy integration, UPMB is eager to contribute institutional and technical capacity building. Our aim is to ensure the seamless implementation of this initiative, ultimately benefiting the health of Ugandans” he stated.
Dr.Grace Kansiime, a Nephrologist Consultant regretted to note that cronic kideny disease was prevalent in 30% of Uganda’s population and about 850 million people are affected globally.
Commissioner of NCDs at the Ministry of Health ,Dr.Charles Oyoo Akiya called for coordinated partnership among health providers to avoid duplication and waste of resources while creating public awareness to reduce NCDs burden .
Recognising the interconnected nature of cardiovascular and kidney diseases, as well as the growing impact of climate change on health, HHA is broadening its scope to provide comprehensive solutions. This includes enhancing access to prevention and screening for CKD, particularly among at-risk populations such as those with hypertension and type-2 diabetes.
Deepak Arora, Country President of African Cluster at AstraZeneca, said; “today marks a significant milestone in our commitment to enhance healthcare outcomes across Africa.
As the burden of chronic kidney disease continues to rise in sub-Saharan Africa, AstraZeneca remains committed to expanding the mission of Healthy Heart Africa to address this pressing health challenge.
Our efforts in Uganda signify a pivotal step towards improving healthcare outcomes and combating the devastating impact of non-communicable diseases in the region.”
“Through this initiative, we aim to challenge conventional perspectives and advocate for healthcare policy reforms to elevate outcomes for all individuals affected by Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), regardless of their demographic, geographic, or socio-economic circumstances.”he added.
According to WHO 35% of total deaths in Uganda are due to NCDs.
The incidence of kidney disease currently ranks among the top 10 causes of mortality. Among patients admitted with CKD, the case fatality rate stands at 21% to 52% among those with end-stage kidney disease, or End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD).
Heal Heart Africa launched in 2014 was established to address the increasing burden of cardiovascular diseases in Africa. In 2024, the programme expanded to target a broader range of NCDs, including CKD.
The programme aims to improve health outcomes, with a focus on increasing awareness of the symptoms and risks of hypertension and CKD; providing health education and access to early screening and treatment; and delivering training to healthcare providers.
This supports health system resilience by relieving the social and economic burden arising from late-stage treatment and care of cardiovascular and related diseases.
Since its inception, the programme has conducted almost 57 million blood pressure screenings and trained more than 11,590 healthcare professionals across nine African nations. With 1,520 dedicated healthcare facilities, Healthy Heart Africa has identified over 11 million individuals with elevated blood pressure, marking significant progress in addressing cardiovascular health in the region.
AstraZeneca (AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. With operations in over 100 countries, AstraZeneca’s innovative medicines are utilised by millions of patients worldwide.
