Hypertension, often called the “silent killer,” is one of the most widespread and undertreated health conditions in the world. The World Health Organization estimates that only 1 in 5 adults with hypertension globally have their blood pressure under control. In the United States, nearly half of adults meet the definition of hypertension, but only about 1 in 4 have it well managed.

These numbers show why screening, diagnosis, and ongoing care are so critical. Over the past few years, MedWish Medworks has built an end-to-end approach to hypertension.

Closing Gaps at Home: Hypertension Care in Cleveland

In Cleveland, where hypertension rates mirror national averages but disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities, MedWish Medworks has provided screenings and treatment navigation for hundreds of patients who struggle to manage their blood pressure.

Our community-based approach integrates screenings at our free clinics with hands-on navigation that helps patients connect to primary care, access medication, and track their progress. For many, these touchpoints represent the first step toward consistent blood pressure control.

By linking patients to sustainable care pathways, MedWish Medworks helps bridge the gap between detection and long-term management, one of the most persistent challenges in hypertension care.

Building Capacity Abroad: Ghana and Honduras

Our global partnerships extend this continuum of care beyond U.S. borders.

Through our in-kind and capacity building support, OKB Hope Foundation, who operate a mobile primary care clinic in rural Ghana, was able to diagnose and manage hypertension for 9 percent of its mobile clinic patients from 2022-2024. That number represents meaningful progress in a country where only about 18 percent of adults with hypertension achieve control.

While in Honduras in 2025, MedWish Medworks supported care for over 40 patients who had lived with untreated hypertension, providing diagnosis, treatment initiation, and ongoing support through our in-country partners. For these individuals, the intervention marked their first step toward managing a chronic condition that otherwise leads to stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure.

Lessons and Looking Forward

Across Cleveland, Ghana, and Honduras, one theme stands out: screening is just the beginning. Sustainable impact comes from linking people to care, equipping local providers, and supporting ongoing treatment.

At MedWish Medworks we aim to:

• Reach more Cleveland residents through neighborhood-based screenings and follow-up.
• Build data systems that track blood pressure control across sites.
• Grow partnerships that empower partners abroad to provide ongoing hypertension care.

Hypertension is both a local and global challenge, but also one of the most preventable drivers of disease. By combining community engagement, clinical partnership, and systems thinking, MedWish Medworks is helping turn early detection into lasting control, saving lives in Cleveland and beyond.

Need care? Attend our 2-Day Dental + Medical Clinic on November 21-22, 2025, at the Huntington Convention Center. More information HERE.

Footnotes:

1. World Health Organization (2023). Hypertension Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023). Hypertension Among Adults in the United States: National Health Statistics Report. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db511.htm
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). High Blood Pressure Facts. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm
4. Awuah, R. B., et al. (2024). Hypertension in Ghana: A Countrywide Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. BMC Public Health. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11465716/
5. Pan American Health Organization (2023). Hypertension Affects One in Four Adults in the Americas. Retrieved from https://www.paho.org/en/news/17-5-2023-hypertension-affects-one-four-adults-americas