City Unveils Hypertension Campaign aimed at African American Men
PHILADELPHIA – On Saturday, June 19, as part of the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement’s Brothas Stroll: Walk for Black Men’s Health, Acting Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole announced the launch of “What’s Your Pressure?” – a summer-long campaign focused on addressing the high rates of hypertension among African American men between 25-55 years old.
“We think that it is important to hear the voices of African American men when discussing this critical issue,” said Cheryl Bettigole, the city’s Acting Health Commissioner.“ ’What’s Your Pressure?’ will focus on strategies to control high blood pressure. Too many Black men in Philadelphia develop complications from untreated high blood pressure that could have been prevented if they had a primary care provider who they trusted and saw regularly. We need our healthcare systems to recognize the history of racism in healthcare and the barriers that history has created. And we need to normalize paying attention to health for Black men. ”
The campaign focuses on the personal stories of four African American men in Philadelphia who have battled hypertension and its health ramifications. The stories told in various 30-second video clips, including one man sharing the importance of establishing a relationship with a trusted health provider; another who stresses how critical it is to ask questions and demand answers from health providers; a third who touts the importance of early testing and addressing health issues head-on; and the fourth man who emphasizes the power of researching, understanding, and taking full control of your health.
The campaign will be run on social media, urban radio, and barbershops throughout the city. As part of a special connection, the Health Department will be working with 15 barbershops in highly affected parts of the city to help kickstart conversations with their patrons about their health and hypertension. During the campaign, some barbershops will be hosting live events with radio stations encouraging folks to learn about their health.
African American men are twice as likely to be hospitalized from high blood pressure. When left uncontrolled, hypertension can increase the chances of kidney disease, heart disease, heart failure, and stroke, which can begin to show up in a person’s thirties. These illnesses can be avoided or treated by a trusted doctor or health care provider.
The Brothas Stroll: Walk for Black Men’s Health was inspired by the report Brotherly Love: Health of Black Men and Boys in Philadelphia issued in March 2019. The videos will be aired on Get Healthy Philly’s Instagram (@gethealthyphilly) and Facebook (@gethealthyphl) pages and are available on the Health Department’s Youtube channel.
