Lewisham Health and Care Partnership launches ‘Let’s Talk Blood Pressure’ initiative with Africa Advocacy Foundation
Lewisham Health and Care Partnership, part of the South East London Integrated Care Board, has commissioned local voluntary organisation, Africa Advocacy Foundation, to deliver a community hypertension service. The ‘Let’s Talk Blood Pressure’ initiative aims to raise awareness of hypertension amongst residents across the borough and will be delivered over the next two years.
The programme, which launches this month, is deeply rooted in community outreach and will focus on work to reduce blood pressure-related health issues and improve health outcomes, particularly for Black African and Caribbean communities and those living in more deprived areas of the borough.
As part of the ‘Let’s Talk Blood Pressure’ plan, Africa Advocacy Foundation will train a network of community champions to work within the community to help enhance the education and understanding of high blood pressure, drive early detection and diagnosis.
Activity will include targeted community outreach events, educational workshops, the creation of culturally tailored resources and engagement across social media. Peer support groups will also be established to foster a sense of community and provide a space to share experiences.
Jonathan McInerny, Head of Long Term Conditions and Cancer for Lewisham, South East London Integrated Care Board said: “We are delighted to have awarded Africa Advocacy Foundation a two-year contract to provide community hypertension services in Lewisham. The work they do in our communities is invaluable and we’re looking forward to seeing their outreach impact on blood pressure awareness and diagnosis over the course of this project.”
Denis Onyango, Programmes Director at Africa Advocacy Foundation said: “High blood pressure poses a significant, and often undiagnosed, health risk to the people of Lewisham and this is particularly prevalent amongst Black African and Afro-Caribbean communities. We’re looking forward to raising awareness of the condition, helping more people to get checked and subsequently better-manage the condition.”
Agnes Baziwe, the Chief Executive of Africa Advocacy Foundations, said: “We are a community-based organisation founded in 1996. The organisation has deep roots in the community, making it uniquely positioned to address the specific health challenges faced by the residents of Lewisham. We are honoured to be part of this collaboration to tackle high blood pressure in the borough and reduce the mortality rate.”
The ‘Let’s Talk Blood Pressure’ initiative launches later this month with activity to spot, check and treat hypertension in action across the borough. It is a partnership between the Africa Advocacy Foundation, King’s College London, and the Lewisham Health and Care Partnership. The collaboration aims to leverage the strengths of each organisation to deliver a culturally sensitive and effective program.
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