Ugandans have been urged to listen to their hearts and attend regular health check-ups, make better choices by eating a healthy diet, saying no to tobacco, getting plenty of exercise and follow the Government’s advice on preventing COVID-19 as these will surely have a significant health impact on Uganda and the well-being of our nation.The call was made by health minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng while celebrating the World heart day 2020 on Tuesday morning at the Uganda Heart Institute. This year’s day is commemorated under the theme; “Use Heart, to Beat CVD”.“In this time of COVID-19, cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients are not only at a more risk of developing severe forms of the virus, but they may also be afraid to seek ongoing care for their hearts. Use Heart therefore is calling upon all of us to: listen to your heart and attend your regular health check-ups, make better choices by eating a healthy diet, saying no to tobacco, getting plenty of exercise and follow the Government’s advice on preventing COVID-19” the minister noted.Dr. Aceng revealed that since Uganda Heart Institute has gained autonomy, the Ministry of Health is now addressing the great need for a stand-alone state-of-the-art heart facility that will operate more independently to deliver a more effective heart service to the country.She noted that as a Country, Uganda is also rapidly increasing its knowledge about the causes, prevention, and treatment of heart disease, and that while most historical researches on diseases in Uganda have focused on HIV, Malaria, TB and other infections, new research is now focusing on cardiovascular diseases including rheumatic heart disease, coronary artery disease, and hypertension as evidenced by the prolific publications and awards by the Uganda Heart Institute. Uganda Heart Institute has registered huge milestones for the Health sector and the country as a whole over the years and numerous successful Heart treatments including open heart surgeries are now routinely carried out as a clear testimony that the Institute’s becoming a center of excellence, coupled with efforts to reverse the trend of referrals abroad and instead position Uganda as a medical tourist destination within the region as reflected in the NDPIII. World Heart Day is a World Heart Federation initiative, celebrated annually with a crucial role to play in improving the world’s heart health, reducing the global economic burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and achieving the UN target of 1/3 reduction in non-communicable disease-related (NCD) premature mortality by 2030.
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