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WORLD HEART FEDERATION MEMBERS MEETING AT USA CONGRESS

During the annual meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando, Florida, USA, the World Heart Federation met with many of its members to discuss World Heart Day, the Go Red for Women campaign and the 2008 World Congress of Cardiology. The meeting took place 5 November 2007 at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association in Orlando, Florida, USA.

World Heart Day in Barbados: a case study

After an introduction by Chief Executive Officer Janet Voûte, Vice President Trevor Hassell briefed about World Heart Day, using his own Barbados as a case study.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados has celebrated World Heart Day since the day’s inception in 2000, Dr Hassell explained. The goal has been to showcase the foundation, its supporters and partners; to highlight heart disease and its prevention; to raise funds; to seek new members; and to allow the public to evaluate the foundation.

This year in Barbados, World Heart Day was celebrated in conjunction with the start of Barbados Heart and Stroke Week, Dr Hassell said. The week started on Sunday, 30 September with a church service and publication of a newspaper supplement about cardiovascular disease.

On 2 October there was an open house at the foundation’s headquarters. A senior government health officer spoke about prevention of cardiovascular disease. On 4 October, the winners of an essay and poster contest for youths 5 to 11 years old were announced at Harrison College in the capital of Bridgetown. There was also a mini health fair at the college. The week culminated with a fish dinner at headquarters.

Barbados’s World Heart Day met its objectives, Dr Hassell concluded. At the same time, he expressed the wish for broader participation and for some instrument to enable members to objectively measure the value of such events.

Go Red for Women: a case study

Next, Singapore Heart Foundation Vice Chairman Terrance Chua presented the Go Red for Women campaign in Singapore. He identified the campaign’s purpose as being “to raise women’s awareness of heart disease and stroke, learn and reduce their risks of developing heart disease and stroke”.

The inaugural launch in September 2005 contained eye-catching colour advertisements featuring such celebrities as physician and parliamentarian Lily Neo and actress Joanne Peh and focused on the theme of women’s heart health, Dr Chua said.

The following March, the campaign organized a massive “Heart Walk” in which 5,000 people participated. On Mother’s Day, 6 May 2006, the campaign organized a special Mother’s Day seminar around the theme, “Healthy Mummy, Healthy Family”.

During 2006, the foundation organized a women’s heart health survey. Among the principal findings were that most women were unaware that heart disease and stroke were Singapore’s leading cause of death. In fact, only 8% knew it. Fifty-four per cent considered cancer to be their biggest health risk.

The campaign has succeeded in part because of the support of such corporate partners as Nestle, Elizabeth Arden and 7-Eleven, he said.

Awareness building activities this year included bathing City Hall in red light, organizing a heart walk, holding a gala, exhibiting red dresses and holding another Mother’s Day seminar. Plans for 2008 include holding another seminar, gala and light show as well as a heart race.

World Congress of Cardiology

The meeting ended with a presentation of the World Congress of Cardiology that will be held 18 to 21 May in Buenos Aires, Argentina, by Congress Division Director Adrian Ott.

Learn more about World Heart Day, Go Red for Women and the World Congress of Cardiology on the World Heart Federation’s web site.

Diverse member attendance

Among the member organizations represented were the American Heart Association, the InterAmerican Heart Foundation, the Venezuelan Heart Foundation, the Turkish Society of Cardiology, the Spanish Heart Foundation, the Slovenian Society of Cardiology and the Singapore Heart Foundation.

Also represented were the Peruvian Society of Cardiology, the National Heart Association of Malaysia, the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, the Chinese Society of Cardiology, the Chilean Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados.