Healthy Heart Africa
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About Healthy Heart Africa
In 2014, AstraZeneca launched the Healthy Heart Africa (HHA) programme to prevent and control hypertension and reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease across Africa through a partnership-driven approach.
A decade on, in 2024 the programme expanded to include chronic kidney disease (CKD), recognising the growing prevalence of heart and kidney diseases which is exacerbated by climate change.
The programme takes an integrated approach to improving health equity and health systems resilience, while adapting to the changing environment.
Through the programme, 67.4 million people have been screened for elevated blood pressure to date and over 11,700 health workers trained.
HHA works to improve early detection, management and access to care for hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases. We work with Ministries of Health and partners to promote prevention, to delay disease progression, reduce healthcare burdens and minimise the environmental footprint of healthcare.
By expanding its focus to include chronic kidney disease, integrating with local health systems and supporting access to guideline-based care, Healthy Heart Africa addresses unmet medical needs, reduces barriers to care, and ultimately contributes to establishing sustainable and resilient patient pathways.
The urgent need for action
Hypertension is a silent killer, responsible for a significant portion of non-communicable disease (NCD) deaths globally. In Africa, over 27% of the population lives with hypertension—a rate far above the global average.1
In 2014, routine screening for hypertension was not standard practice in many African countries, resulting in widespread underdiagnosis and undertreatment. To address this, the HHA programme, in alignment with World Health Organization guidance and national NCD strategies, has worked to transform care by integrating hypertension management into primary healthcare systems.
Hypertension remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in Africa. By implementing national protocols and making screening routine, we can save countless lives.
Our intervention
Through Healthy Heart Africa we are partnering to:
Equip frontline health systems
We provide the necessary tools and training to facilities and healthcare providers to support integration of hypertension screening and management into routine care.
Develop protocols and policies
We collaborate with Ministries of Health in Africa to establish national guidelines for cardiovascular diseases (including hypertension) early detection and management in nine countries, as well as national data collection tools to inform decision-making. The programme works with the Ministries of Health of both Uganda and Ghana to establish the first CKD guidelines in the region.
Build capacity
We have trained over 11,700 healthcare workers and activated over 1,550 healthcare facilities to ensure sustainable hypertension screening and management practices and care delivery.2
Healthy Heart Africa focuses on three pillars:
Resilience
HHA strengthens healthcare systems to be more adaptable and resilient. By enhancing screening and early detection capabilities at the primary care level, the programme equips health systems to handle evolving health challenges efficiently. Expanding training for healthcare workers and integrating NCD screening into routine care pathways builds long-term capacity, ensuring health systems can deliver equitable, high-quality care to patients who need it most. In the future, we aim to demonstrate the cost-saving benefits for healthcare systems achieved through early screening and detection.
Climate action
HHA contributes to climate resilience by preventing disease progression and reducing the resource-intensive care often required at advanced stages, such as dialysis for CKD. Early detection and treatment lower the carbon footprint associated with energy-intensive medical procedures and extended hospitalisations.3 With the expansion to include CKD, we aim to share data illustrating the link between heart and kidney diseases and highlight the programme's positive environmental impact, notably by reducing the carbon footprint of dialysis.
Health equity
At its core, HHA focuses on health equity by establishing guideline-based treatment and protocol development that ensures underserved populations gain access to NCD care. Mobile clinics, community outreach, and integration with existing health services like HIV and maternal care enable broader and more equitable reach. The programme also supports our aim to improve access, affordability, and inclusivity of care, bridging gaps for populations most impacted by NCDs, and elevating the standard of healthcare delivery in historically marginalised communities.
Our impact
Healthy Heart Africa has supported the development of national hypertension guidelines and data collection tools which have been integrated into the health information systems of nine countries (Rwanda, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt).
- People screened for elevated blood pressure: 67.4 million2
- Individuals with elevated blood pressure were linked to care:12.9 million2
- Health workers trained: over 11,7002
- Healthcare facilities activated: over 1,5502
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)
The future of healthcare in Africa relies on strong primary health care and building sustainable ecosystems that integrate climate resilience to prevent further rise in disease burdens. We invite partners to join us in this mission.
The programme’s sustainable model offers a blueprint for addressing other pressing health challenges, contributing to healthier communities and a more resilient planet. We will continue collaborating with governments and organisations to sustain and scale impact.
References
1. World Health Organization. (2023, March 16). Factsheets. Hypertension. Retrieved April 2025, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension
2. AstraZeneca Data on File - Total Programme numbers since launch in Octobe 2014 to end of December 2024
3. Holt, S. G., Koornneef, E., Al Obeidli, A. A. K., Hubbert, L., & Nicholson, L. (2024). Decarbonisation of Kidney Care in the United Arab Emirates: A Roadmap to an Environmentally Sustainable Care. International Journal of Nephrology and Renovascular Disease, 17, 241–253. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJNRD.S481121
Veeva ID: Z4-73651
Date of preparation: May 2025