Project HOPE is increasing access to screenings, treatment, and support services for patients with hypertension.

Of these, over 75% occur in low- and middle-income countries. Hypertension is a key risk factor of cardiovascular disease, but it is controllable and preventable.

We began working to fight hypertension in 2011 in South Africa and have recently expanded into China. Our programs provide screenings, referrals, and treatment support to patients and strengthen the skills of health care providers. Hypertension is a key risk factor of cardiovascular disease, but it is controllable and preventable.

Our key approaches include:

• Improving the capacity and effectiveness of health care workers to treat hypertension, ensure integrated care for patients with co-morbidities, and communicate effectively with patients to ensure treatment adherence and adoption of healthy lifestyles.
• Facilitating delivery of evidence-based patient and health worker education by utilizing game-based curricula, mobile health messages, and peer support networks to improve patients’ ability to self-manage their disease, adopt healthy behaviors, and adhere to medication.
• Establishing teams of health and peer educators to deliver self-management curricula to patients and to promote awareness and preventive behaviors throughout communities.
• Employing a patient-centered approach that reduces patient costs and increases convenience of intervals between visits and access to medications and treatment.
• Promoting policies that stimulate and embed sustainable changes that support increased access to integrated care, management, and treatment for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• Conducting community-based education and screening campaigns to ensure those at risk are properly diagnosed, treated, and encouraged to adopt healthy behaviors.