Healthy Heart Africa
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What is the Healthy Heart Africa programme?
Healthy Heart Africa (HHA) was launched in 2014 to address the increasing burden of cardiovascular diseases in Africa, with the goal of reaching 10 million people with hypertension by 2025.
Partnering with governments, healthcare providers and local communities, our HHA programme helps countries address the growing social and economic burden of heart and kidney diseases by targeting those in greatest need and improving equitable access to care.
Healthy Heart Africa is central to our commitment to sustainability and improving access to healthcare, as we put patients first – today and in the future.
Over the past decade, the programme has:
- Expanded into nine countries across Sub-Saharan Africa
- Conducted over 54.5 million blood pressure screenings.1
- Trained more than 11,480 healthcare workers.1
- Identified over 10.8 million people with elevated blood pressure readings.1
- Activated more than 1,515 healthcare facilities to provide hypertension services.1
As of end March 2024, we have surpassed our 2025 target by identifying over 10.8 million people with elevated blood pressure, to be referred for appropriate treatment.
Healthy Heart Africa is expanding impact and partnerships
HHA is our pioneering health equity programme in the region, focused on ensuring access to affordable, sustainable, and innovative healthcare solutions.
Leveraging a decade of impactful operations, HHA will expand its focus in 2024 to encompass a broader spectrum of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including heart and kidney diseases. This evolution is driven by the interconnected nature of these health issues and the additional challenges posed by ongoing climate change, which exacerbates the risk associated with these diseases. A holistic approach is necessary to support health system resilience, sustainability, reduce costs and lower emissions.
HHA recognises that climate change affects human health through changes in temperature and weather patterns. This understanding informs our strategy, allowing us to develop comprehensive and effective health interventions that address the evolving health needs of communities impacted by these environmental factors.
The programme will also extend its reach to additional countries in Northern Africa, in collaboration with key partners, including the World Health Organization, Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Heart Federation.
This extended scope reflects our dedication to enhancing awareness, education, screening, and evidence-based care, which collectively improves the well-being of people, society, and the planet.
Prioritising chronic kidney disease (CKD)
HHA aligns with our business strategy, broadening its focus to NCDs including CKD in line with the Cardiovascular, Renal, and Metabolism (CVRM) portfolio. The programme engages governments from the outset to shape healthcare ecosystems and focuses on policy and medical advocacy alongside implementation efforts.
Our response integrates a comprehensive strategy to improve access to prevention and screening services, particularly for chronic kidney disease—a critical and escalating public health issue—alongside heart disease and other NCDs, focusing especially on populations at risk, such as those with hypertension and type-2 diabetes.
Despite affecting an estimated 15% of people in Africa, higher than the global average, low public awareness and insufficient health policies mean chronic kidney disease often goes undetected and undertreated.2,3 Moreover, environmental factors like extreme heat can increase the severity of these conditions and the likelihood of mortality.4
Measuring impact and sustainability
HHA tracks its impact through various metrics, including:
- Education and awareness outreach
- Screening and early detection numbers
- Access to guidelines-based care
- Health system resilience indicators
The programme aims to achieve high-value outcomes supported by key reporting indexes and publications.
Expanding patient reach
In addition to its core initiatives, HHA identifies pathways to further expand patient reach, ensuring broader impact and sustainability.
By improving health equity and enhancing the resilience of health systems, we strive to create lasting change that will benefit millions across the continent. Join us in our efforts to build a healthier, more equitable Africa.
Driving impact through collaborative partnerships
Our implementing partners
Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau
Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB)
PSI: Populations Services International
PATH: Program for Appropriate Technology in Health
Africa CHA Platform
Health Improvement Project Zanzibar (HIPZ)
References
1. AstraZeneca data on file: total programme numbers since start to end March 2024
2. Vanholder R, et al. Fighting the unbearable lightness of neglecting kidney health: the decade of the kidney. Clin Kidney J [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2022 February] ;14(7):1719–30. Available from: https://apo-opa.info/3ZJUUu6
3. Kaze, A.D., Ilori, T., Jaar, B.G. et al. Burden of chronic kidney disease on the African continent: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Nephrol 19, 125 (2018). https://apo-opa.info/4209tf2
4. Romanello M, et al. The 2023 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: the imperative for a health-centred response in a world facing irreversible harms. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01859-7
Veeva ID: Z4-64719
Date of preparation: May 2024