WORLD HEART DAY 2007 URGES “TEAM UP FOR HEALTHY HEARTS!”World Heart Day 2007 was an enormous success both in terms of numbers of participants and of their enthusiasm for heightening awareness of the simple and cost-effective habits that people can adopt to prevent and control cardiovascular disease. It occurred, as every year, on the last Sunday in September – this year’s celebration taking place on 30 September. The day’s theme – “Team Up for Healthy Hearts!” – was chosen because by teaming up, both children and adults have more success in controlling their weight and in developing other heart healthy habits such as taking regular physical activity and not smoking. Many sportsmen, women, coaches and a team psychologist supported the day. “More than skill, technique or athleticism, football is about heart. That's why I'm encouraging everyone to team up for healthy hearts for this year's World Heart Day - to eat healthily, take regular exercise and avoid smoking,” Steven Gerrard, Liverpool Captain and England Footballer. “It’s my role to motivate everyone, young and old, to get healthy and active,” said Brett Lee, Australian Cricket Fast Bowler. “A healthy active lifestyle can help lower your risk of developing chronic diseases like heart disease and stroke. Let’s start exercising a little more, eating better and cutting down on junk food, so we can live a long and healthy life.” Sports psychologist and former coach with Liverpool FC, Jacques Crevoisier said: “Working at the very top level of football I know the importance teamwork plays. By working together you are much more likely to achieve your goals.” Teaming up events took place in over 100 countries, here are a few highlights: Americas In Paraguay, World Heart Day got off to a running start with a marathon in Ñu Guazú National Park sponsored by the Paraguayan Society of Cardiology and the National Institute of Cardiovascular Prevention. The 180 marathoners wore t-shirts bearing the World Heart Day logo and theme to promote the benefits of physical activity and exercise. Eight days earlier, in the capital of Asunción, an outdoor stage was the scene for live performances stressing the importance of healthy lifestyles. One of the highlights was a play written and performed by nurses and addressing how the family environment can affect a child’s cardiovascular health. Free cardiovascular risk factor screenings were offered throughout the day. Students paraded and bicycled with signs encouraging youths to eat healthily and take regular exercise. In Barbados, the World Heart Day fun was spread out over an entire week. The winners of an essay and poster competition for youths 5 to 11 years old were announced at Harrison College in the capital of Bridgetown. The youths were asked to develop their works on the theme of “Team Up for Healthy Hearts!” In Chile’s capital of Santiago, O’Higgins Park was the scene for a family-style celebration of music, theatre and dance emphasizing heart-healthy ideas, organised by the Chilean Society of Cardiology. Asia In Singapore, World Heart Day coincided with the Singapore Heart Foundation’s 36th National Heart Week – Heart Faire event. Activities included the “10,000 Steps Heart Challenge” in which participants agreed to walk 10,000 steps, a tour of a supermarket where participants could learn how to make sense of food labels, a “Happy Health Family” poster competition for primary school children and a hip-hop dance competition for secondary school children. In China, World Heart Day was celebrated in the Beijing Happy Valley theme park under the sponsorship of the Chinese Society of Cardiology and its various partners. Activities included free cardiovascular health assessments, a Nordic Walking demonstration and a heart health schoolroom exhibition. In the northeast Indian state of Assam, the Cardiological Society of India held an interactive meeting with approximately 200 students, parents, teachers and physicians, to discuss heart disease prevention. In the southeast Indian city of Manipal, approximately 6,000 people participated in a walkathon sponsored by the Kasturba Hospital. In an effort to increase awareness of the risks to women, approximately 400 women over the age of 40 received free heart health consultations, including electrocardiograms. Another walkathon in the southwest Indian city of Hyderabad drew 2,000 participants. “Awareness is empowerment, and we want to empower the people of Hyderabad to make the right choices when it comes to health,” said Sudhaker Jadhav of Wockhardt Hospitals, which co-sponsored the event. Africa In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the Ebrahim Haji Ithna-Asheri Charitable Health Centre celebrated World Heart Day with free heart health screenings. In addition, free apples and a free publication were made available to promote healthy diets and physical activity. All patients and staff at the health centre were given hand-made badges with the World Heart Day theme, “Team Up for Healthy Hearts!” Europe In the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the health ministry and the Clinic of Cardiology of Skopje celebrated World Heart Day with sports activities, free preventive check ups and a heart-health poetry competition for children. In Preseren Square in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, there were educational displays about the prevention of heart disease, consultations about healthy lifestyles, music and speeches by the president of the Slovenian Heart Foundation and other figures. In the Estonian capital of Tallinn, the Estonian Heart Association sponsored musical performances, speeches, educational exhibits, health screenings and outdoor ball games. A special World Heart Day bus toured the Baltic country for six days to spread information about heart health. And finally, the World Heart Federation held its own press event in Geneva. International media based at the United Nations were invited to the University Hospital’s Bus Santé for their own heart health test. World Heart Day 2008 will be held on Sunday, 28 September with the theme, “Know Your Risk”. | |||||||
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