Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is a hidden killer in Nigeria. Frequently mistaken for asthma or other cardiac and respiratory diseases, PH is a progressive, life-threatening condition that causes the arteries in the lungs to narrow, become damaged, or block. This leads to symptoms such as breathlessness, chest pain, fainting spells, palpitations, and fluid retention, and can ultimately lead to heart failure.

Globally, medical advancements are allowing patients with pulmonary hypertension to live longer and healthier lives. However, in Nigeria, the situation is starkly different. For many patients, accessing life-saving medication is nearly impossible due to the limited availability of options, and the few that are available are prohibitively expensive. The lack of health insurance coverage and low awareness among the public and healthcare providers exacerbate these challenges.

While the world celebrates advancements in treating this condition, Nigeria lags significantly behind.

“PH no be joke. The life-saving drugs we need are not available. The few options that exist to help slow disease progression and improve quality of life are very costly and, sometimes, their prices double overnight due to inflation. Patients are forced to choose between life-saving treatments and meeting basic needs like food and rent. Some stop treatment altogether, and sadly, we lose them,” says Ayotunde Omitogun, a patient and advocate.

The cost of a month’s medication can reach hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of naira—amounts that are unmanageable for most Nigerian families, about 60% of whom live in multidimensional poverty. Unlike in other countries where treatment is covered by insurance, Nigerian patients bear the entire financial burden alone.

Behind every statistic is a personal story: young people unable to work due to fatigue and breathlessness, parents fighting to keep their children alive, and families emotionally and financially drained. Pulmonary hypertension exists in Nigeria, but it remains largely unknown—partly due to misdiagnosis and partly because patients are often too afraid or ashamed to speak out.

This November, the PH No Be Joke campaign aims to spotlight the crisis of access to treatment. The campaign seeks to break the silence, advocate for government intervention, and rally support for the PH Drug Aid Fund, which helps patients access essential medication.

The message is clear: access means life. No Nigerian should have to die because they cannot afford treatment for a disease that can be managed.