Port-au-Prince, 29 September 2025.- On the occasion of World Heart Day, this Monday, September 29, Dr.William Pape, director of the GHESKIO Center, drew the alarm bell on the progression of cardiovascular diseases in Haiti. Speaker on Radio Magik 9 on Panel Magik, he recalled that these diseases, including hypertension, diet and lack of physical activity, are now the leading cause of death in the country.
During his intervention in Panel Magik, Dr. William Pape detailed the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease. « High blood pressure is the first cause. Added to this are modifiable factors: too salty a diet, Haitians consume four times as much salt as recommended, a high presence of lead in the blood that damages the arteries, and insufficient physical exercise », he explained.
According to him, control of blood pressure remains crucial. « When patients take their medication correctly, 70% manage to reduce their blood pressure by 12 points. However, a reduction of only 5 points already considerably reduces the risk », insisted the specialist.
Dr. Pape also placed this issue in the national health context. « We live with two major epidemics: infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and cardiovascular diseases. Between 2015 and 2016, AIDS, which was the leading cause of death for more than 30 years, fell to 7th place. Meanwhile, cardiovascular disease has become the leading cause of death, and by far »he stressed that they affect both men and women alike.
Through this appeal, the director of GHESKIO urges the population to adopt better lifestyles and rigorously follow their treatments, in order to curb this silent epidemic that endangers public health in Haiti.
W.A.
