Migration from the Birkirkara to the Mosta health centre starts this weekend for the refurbished Mosta centre to reopen its doors to the public on April 22, Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia said.

He said the centre has seen €600,000 worth of refurbishment, facilities have been increased and certain emergency procedures as well as plastering can now be done at the centre.

Dr Farrugia was speaking during a visit to the Birkirkara Health Centre on the occasion of World Health Day, this year dedicated to High Blood pressure.

High blood pressure contributed to other health conditions including stroke and heart diseases.

The minister said that although an element of genetics was involved, sufferers should choose products which were healthy and contained no salt.

The Mediterranean diet, he said, was ideal. Lifestyle change should also be made to include exercise.

Dr Farrugia said that around 22 per cent of the Maltese population had high blood pressure.

He also announced that people with Down’s Syndrome could now go to the Birkirkara Health Centre where a clinic was being set up to provide advice since most people with Down’s were obese with the possibility of high blood pressure, which reduced life expectancy.

The government was also planning to upgrade other centres so that Mosta and Rabat would regional hubs.