Heart Foundation calls for a healthier nation
The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa hosts its community and partners to commemorate their 45th anniversary.
Image: Fouzia Van Der Fort
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa has called on everyone to get screened to be a healthier country.
Speaking at its 45th anniversary and commemoration of World Heart Day, honoured annually on September 29, at their offices in Buiten Street, Cape Town, the foundation's CEO, Professor Pamela Naidoo, invited non-profit organisations, donors, survivors, businesses, and partners to play their part.
She said that the foundation joined global organisations annually to commemorate the burden of cardiovascular disease.
"We are 45 years old and we look forward to reducing further the burden of heart disease, strokes, hypertension, and other risk factors. Do join us to mobilise to make a healthier South Africa," said Ms Naidoo.
Sibekezelo Myaka, from the Western Cape department of health and wellness's increasing wellness team, and stroke survivor Lumka Mau-Mau, from Delft.
Image: Fouzia Van Der Fort
Stroke survivor Lumka Mau-Mau, from Delft, said knowing health status, in terms of blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol screenings.
"I would like to encourage everyone that you can beat this. You can get ahead of ending up in the hospital," she said.
Ms Mau-Mau encouraged everyone to get screened and to eat as healthily as possible.
"Stroke has different triggers, you never know which one is going to put you in hospital. You need to take care of your bodies, eat healthily, and you need to get tested. And if you see something is wrong, please do not hesitate to go to hospital and get checked out," she said.
Grandmothers Against Poverty and Aids aftercare coordinator Ntombizodwa Femele and fieldworker Elda Sidlabane.
Image: Fouzia Van Der Fort
Non-profit organisation Grandparents Against Poverty and Aids (GAPA), based in Khayelitsha, thanked the foundation for its monthly visits.
Organisation fieldworker and coordinator Elda Sidlabane said that often the elderly and the sick only got to see a doctor or a nurse every six months, but with monthly visits from the foundation, senior citizens could know their health status.
GAPA has weekly meetings, where senior citizens participate in information sessions about health, social services, the police, and skills development.
Ms Sidlabane said monthly sessions included information about members' health, how to eat, what kind of foods are good for them, when and how to take their medication, the importance of taking their pills, and not forgetting to take their medication.
"The foundation is very important to us because they check our health, and with these six-month checks, we can know more about our health and know what is happening in your body," she said.
The foundation held round table discussions in Durban, Johannesburg, and the last one in the Mother City, as part of their anniversary celebrations and legacy programme, especially during Heart Awareness Month, in September.
For more information, visit the foundation in Buiten Street, call them on 021 422 1586 or email heart@heartfoundation.co.za.