PHCC marks World Heart Day with a campaign led by health education department

On September 29, the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) launched an awareness initiative to commemorate World Heart Day. The event, spearheaded by the Health Education Department and joined by health centres and their teams, promoted the year's message, "Don’t Miss a Beat," urging individuals to identify cardiovascular risk factors and signs, enabling early intervention to safeguard heart health.

Cardiovascular diseases emerged as the primary cause of death globally, as reported by the World Health Organisation, which estimated that 19.8 million lives were lost to these diseases in 2022.

The campaign incorporated engaging booths and stations for patients and visitors, providing insights into cardiovascular risk factors, blood pressure monitoring, healthy food choices, salt reduction, physical activity, and measures to curb sedentary habits. Discussions also centered on the negative impact of tobacco and the availability of smoking cessation programs.

Attendees were educated on recognising heart attack and stroke warning signals and the urgency of seeking immediate medical help. They were prompted to set achievable health goals to integrate into their day-to-day lives. Children participated in interactive activities centred around healthy eating, physical movement, and everyday habits conducive to heart health, fostering early adoption of healthy habits and family involvement in promoting cardiac wellbeing.

Dr Maryam al-Emadi, Director of Clinical Operations and Senior Consultant in Family Medicine at PHCC, stressed that conducting the campaign through health centres fortifies primary care's role in prevention and early detection, providing patients and their families with the necessary support to take actionable steps towards better health. Collaborative efforts from the Health Education Department, clinical teams, and support services exemplify PHCC's commitment to delivering holistic, patient-centric care.

Dr Sarah Rashid Musa, manager of Health Education and Consultant in Community Medicine, presented an awareness session for healthcare professionals titled "Cardiovascular Disease: From Risk Factors to Root Causes." The lecture delved into the global and local prevalence of cardiovascular disease, the significance of precise blood pressure measurement and cardiovascular risk assessment, the role of nutrition and physical activity in prevention, and the influence of social and behavioural factors on patients' adherence to care plans.

Dr Sarah highlighted the necessity of empathetic patient interaction, identifying barriers to healthy behaviour adoption, and fostering teamwork among healthcare professionals. She stressed that effective health education entails enlightening individuals about their health risks and obstacles to healthy behaviour adoption, setting realistic goals, and translating knowledge into enduring daily practices that bolster heart health.