About 225 South Africans are killed by heart diseases daily, while 10 people suffer a stroke in the country every hour.
A total of 13% of the deaths globally is due to high blood pressure.
Thursday 29 September marked World Heart Day.
On the day the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA) also commemorated its 42nd anniversary with the launch of its Legacy campaign which celebrates more than four decades of heart and brain health.
The event took place at the Artscape Theatre.
Fondly identified by its recognisable heart symbol, the foundation has played a leading role in fighting preventable heart disease, strokes and the associated risk factors, while also significantly reducing premature deaths and disabilities in South Africa.
Prof Pamela Naidoo, HSFSA Chief Executive Officer, says they are excited to be celebrating this milestone.
“This is a monumental occasion for the NGO. For the past 42 years, HSFSA has been advocating for health and wellness with passion, science, good governance, and human-centricity and we need to celebrate these achievements which inspire us to continue our important work. It tells us that we have been able to be relevant for 42 years, we have sustained ourselves financially.”
Naidoo notes, however, their work is not yet done.
“We also still have a lot to do because when the organisation started heart disease and strokes were not a burden in this country. Now it is. We have to drive that number down.”
Naidoo encourages people to put their health first.
“Adopt good, healthy behaviours; eat right, sleep right, exercise. If you are 45 years and older, check if you are hypertensive or diabetic because these are drivers of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Women are most vulnerable during their pre-menopause, menopause, and post menopause stage.”
Naidoo says non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including CVD (heart disease, strokes, and other vascular diseases) are the second leading cause of death in the country and the prevalence of these NCDs are linked to common health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, and are closely associated with obesity, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption.
“While NCDs are the leading cause of death globally, South Africa carries a particularly weighty burden. So much suffering and loss, and so many deaths can be prevented through embracing healthy lifestyles; our mission at HSFSA is to halt the rise of these premature deaths and to continue to educate, inspire and inform South Africans for the next 42 years to make healthy choices.”
Naidoo says health signs to look out for include high blood pressure, diabetes, consistent tiredness, heart palpitations, weight loss and gaining of weight.
She explains that education and awareness are a key focus.
“Using various community-based initiatives, like the new mobile clinic, which increases access to health screenings and communicates people’s risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD), people are empowered with accurate information to guide their lifestyle changes and even seek the medical support they require.”
Partnering with Government, HSFSA has played an important role in influencing policy and legislative changes through its advocacy for reducing salt, sugar and “bad fat” content in processed foods.
HSFSA also stands with the health sector in its efforts to discourage tobacco use and to appeal to South Africans to drink alcohol responsibly to make our communities healthier.
Marlene le Roux, CEO of the Artscape, says: “We need to relook our community health care centres. They should become more inclusive and not just looking at sugar, high blood pressure and pregnancies. Those are also important, but they need to look at what is the training of health care practitioners at these health care centres. Then we will be able to start to change our communities.”
Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, who also attended the event, says the burden of NCDs in South Africa has seen a significant increase in recent years.
“This ongoing rise has been attributed to four lifestyle risk factors, namely poor diet, lack of physical activity, tobacco use and the inappropriate use of alcohol. All these factors are preventable. Through its ground-breaking Heart Mark and management of the Diabetes South Africa Endorsement programme, the HSFSA is making it easier for South Africans to improve their nutrition knowledge and make healthy eating choices.”
