Dr Ewura Adjoa Ahimah Nunoo of the 37 Military Hospital, Accra, has encouraged individuals with a hypertension diagnosis to be faithful with their dosages, and not fall for schemes enticing them to use unapproved herbal medications. 

She worried Ghana's "socio-cultural context" had "programmed people to lean towards the herbal medications than the orthodox ones" for fear of side-effects.

The award-winning public health physician specialist, and health advocate was confident, however, that with "the right education and awareness," patients would come to the realisation that medication prescibed by certified doctors were "safe for them".

She asserted that orthodox medications for hypertension were "way better than the herbal ones". 

"No herbal drug can cure hypertension, trust me. So take the drugs given by your doctor," she jovially encouraged.

Dr Ewura Adjoa Ahimah Nunoo spoke to Class News' Prince Benjamin (PB) on the sidelines of the 2025 Scientific Conference, Wednesday, October 22, 2025, where she presented a research paper on the prevalence of hypertension in the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA).

| Dr Ahimah Nunoo poses by a board displaying a concise version of her research paper on hypertension (high blood pressure)

She allayed fears that "basic" blood pressure drugs were not expensive and were easily accessible. She emphasised "they are mostly on the National Health Insurance Scheme" except for the "combination ones from the bigger pharmaceutical companies but we don't prescribe those ones until your BP is very, very high".

Per Dr Ahimah Nunoo's 2022 research on hypertension, she recorded a 27% prevalence, with "higher numbers for the females as compared to the males".

"Out of 5,242 new cases diagnosed [in LaDMA], the women had 54.5%," she explained.

According to the 2022 Global Women Leadership Summit & Honours Medical Media Personality of the Year, women presenting with hypertension could be as a result of their "better health-seeking behaviours," unlike men who would prefer to weather the storm.

She noted check-ups at hospital when women reported pregnancies, exposed them to the diagnosis, too.

"Women have complications during pregnancy, as well. And sometimes, the blood pressure stays with them even after delivery," Dr Ahimah Nunoo added.

Menopause, she highlighted, also could lead to hypertension in women, as estrogen levels drop during this period.

"Estrogen hormones are supposed to protect you from having high blood pressure, so once they drop, you have a higher chance of getting it," she expatiated.

Overall, Dr Ahimah Nunoo emphasised high blood pressure was not a death sentence. She noted it could be managed via proper medication, healthy eating, regular exercise, etc., with the patient going on live a long and quality life.