# Moving forward: Scaling-up the integration of an HIV and hypertension program in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

## TL;DR

This paper outlines policy recommendations to integrate hypertension management into HIV care in Nigeria's Akwa Ibom State.

## Contribution

The paper provides five evidence-based policy recommendations for integrating hypertension into HIV care in a Nigerian state.

## Key findings

- Retired nurses can be leveraged as mentors to build capacity for hypertension management.
- Community engagement is essential for successful integration of hypertension into HIV care.
- Formal integration of hypertension management into primary healthcare centers is recommended.

## Abstract

As people living with HIV experience increased life expectancy, there is a growing concern about the burden of comorbid non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension. This policy brief describes the current policy landscape in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, the research activities, and five policy recommendations rooted in an ongoing research study designed to integrate hypertension management into HIV care across primary health centers in the state.

The policy brief was developed in four steps: review of existing policies, using the reviewed policies to inform research activities, solicitation of stakeholder recommendations via focus group discussions, and formulation of the resulting five policy recommendations for integrating hypertension management into HIV care programs in Akwa Ibom. The key analysis for this brief emerged from the thematic analyses of stakeholder responses.

The five policy recommendations for integrating hypertension management in HIV care in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria are: 1) build capacity by leveraging retired community nurses as mentors; 2) emphasize community engagement; 3) develop consistent training programs on hypertension management for health workers; 4) expand health insurance accessibility; and 5) formally integrate hypertension management into primary healthcare centers in Akwa Ibom State.