World Heart Federation


WORLD HEART DAY LAUNCHES BY HELPING UN EMPLOYEES TO “KNOW THEIR RISK”

UN employees based at the Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland will have the opportunity to have their heart-health checked from 15-18 September 2008. Trained staff from the mobile testing unit Bus Santé, which belongs to the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), will perform interviews and tests including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, body mass index and waistline to hip measurements. This will officially launch the 2008 World Heart Day, taking place on 28 September with the theme “Know Your Risk!"

World Heart Day 2008: “Know Your Risk!”

The 2008 World Heart Day focuses on the theme “Know Your Risk!” Heart disease and stroke is the world’s largest killer, accounting for 17.5 million deaths annually. Heart disease and stroke is largely preventable if the main risk factors, including high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol and blood glucose, tobacco use, overweight and obesity, and salt intake are reduced. And physical activity and the intake of fruit and vegetables are increased.

World Heart Day, now in its ninth year, is run by the World Heart Federation’s member organizations in over 100 countries attracting the attention of millions of people. This year, the global message will be that individuals need to be aware of their personal risk for heart disease and stroke, and should visit their healthcare professional for a heart-health check.

Bus Santé at the UN Headquarters building

The Bus Santé belongs to the Unit of Populational Epidemiology (UPE), part of the Department of Community Medicine and Primary care of the HUG, Switzerland. Its focus is on heart health. It is staffed by two trained technicians who perform interviews, physical examinations, blood tests, laboratory tests and health education.  Its database currently comprises 15,000 observations from randomly selected Geneva residents, aged 35-74 years.

Staff based at the UN Headquarters in Geneva can, on a voluntary basis, have their heart-health checked by one of the trained professional’s from 15-18 September. Further to their own evaluations it is hoped that they will advise other colleagues as well as their families and friends to visit their healthcare professionals for a heart check-up as well as encouraging them to take steps to reduce their risk.

Media launch: 18 September 2008

The media launch of World Heart Day 2008 will take place on Tuesday, 18 September at the UN Headquarters building. The World Heart Federation has planned a press conference together with the World Health Organization and the HUG Bus Santé for 14:00. The following Speakers will participate: Dr Erik J. Meijboom, MD, Professor of Congenital Cardiology and Chairman of the IOC Medical Committee on Sudden Death in Athletes; Professor Gaspoz from HUG; and Dr Shanthi Mendis, WHO coordinator.

This will be followed by members of the media being given the opportunity to have their heart-health checked.