Rhodes University Faculty of Pharmacy will host World Heart Day on Monday, 29 September at Eden Grove Red (17:30 to 19:00). The World Heart Federation’s 2014 theme is Creating heart-healthy environment.
Rhodes University organiser, Prof Sunitha Srinivas says the event will focus on advocacy and health promotion at Rhodes University. This event is targeted at identifying the key risk factors that contribute to increased heart diseases and how they can be prevented and managed.
The district pharmacist, Mr Mohammed Docrat is expected to deliver a presentation on Pharmaceutical expenditure and Cardio Vascular Conditions (CVD): Makana Local Services Area (public sector) and the Acting CEO of Settlers Hospital, Dr Chuka Onaga will present on “Challenges of CVDs in Makana Local Services Area”.
Acting Director of Student Affairs, Dr Colleen Vassiliou will deliver a presentation on Health promotion for the next generation through Rhodes university residence systems and Sister Heather Ferreira will present on the Challenges in monitoring Rhodes support staff with Cardio Vascular Conditions. After the presentations, the Dean of Pharmacy, Prof Rod Walker will moderate the panel discussion.
“This event is to raise awareness that pharmacists’ role related to disease prevention and health promotion is more important to manage the current epidemic increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in developing countries when compared to the traditional ‘disease-drug-dispense’ model,” says Prof Srinivas.
“Prevention strategies focused on NCDs such as heart related diseases and diabetes requires collaborative partnerships with communities such as support staff at Rhodes University, students and the wider the community in Grahamstown to identify culture-sensitive participatory approaches’.
We will also mentor Rhodes University Pharmacy Students Association, as the future generation of pharmacists that will take health advocacy, promotion and disease prevention to the next level,” she added.
Dr Sandile Khamanga is also associated with this event that focuses on preventable risk factors of the heart related diseases, which are currently not addressed sufficiently and is resulting in a negative impact on patients, families and the economy of the country.
According to the World Heart Federation there are four key risk factors driving heart disease condition - increased diet high in salt, fat and sugar; reduced physical activity, increased use of tobacco and increased use of alcohol.
“In South Africa, non communicable diseases as a result of the four risk factors highlighted above, cause 43% of total deaths annually, out of which 18% are from heart related diseases alone,” according to the World Health Organisation..
World Heart Day is an annual event which takes place on 29 September every year. It was founded in 2000 to inform people around the globe that heart diseases are the world’s leading causes of death, claiming approximately 17.3 million lives each year.
Picture Source: http://www.worldheartday2014.com
By Zamuxolo Matiwana