Awareness-creation is key to reducing deaths from Cardiovascular Diseases
Most Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) can be prevented by behaviour change and eliminating risk factors. CVD is the leading cause of death worldwide, resulting in more than 17.5 million deaths in 2015, according to the World Health Organisation(WHO), Noncommunicable Diseases, 2015.
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The Chief Executive Officer of the World Heart Federation, Johanna Ralston, in a statement online, maintains that “heart health is at the heart of all health. When you look after your heart, it means eating and drinking well, exercising, stopping smoking... and doing all the things that make you not only healthier, but also make you feel good and able to enjoy your life to the fullest.”
In his Postgraduate Medical Journal of Ghana 2013, Accelerating the control and prevention of non-communicable diseases in Ghana: The Key Issues, W.K Bosu, states that the picture is the same in Ghana as CVDs account for 14.5 per cent of reported total deaths in Ghana as compared to 13.4 per cent from malaria.
Managing heart health
The recent Future Health Index commissioned by Royal Philips, a leading health technology company, shows only 39 per cent of cardiology healthcare professionals believe their patients have the tools required to better manage their own heart health effectively.
As a leader in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, Philips believes that providing people with information to make healthier choices and establish healthier habits was key to ongoing healthy hearts.
As a result, Philips has launched an online educational hub, myheartisunique.com, designed to drive awareness of preventing CVDs through healthy living.
With the widespread use of the internet among Ghanaians, according to a Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences 2012 on the growth and usage of internet in Ghana, which increased from 0.1 per cent in 1999 to 8.4 per cent in 2011, and an information of the GhanaWeb, which quotes the rising number of mobile users, Philips hopes to use this medium to provide education on the prevention of CVDs among Ghanaians.
Global partnership
Furthermore, Philips has announced a global partnership with the World Heart Federation to further its commitment to help people, including Ghanaians, better manage their heart health.
By the partnership, Philips is furthering its commitment to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease with the federation, which is the global body dedicated to leading the fight against heart diseases and stroke.
According to a statement from Philips Group Communications - Africa, Philips’ objectives is to encourage the public to take personal responsibility for leading heart-healthy lives and raise awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Innovations
Philips also has innovations that can help clinicians treat cardiovascular disease by speeding detection, diagnosis and treatment, driving more effective recovery and home care and encouraging prevention and healthy living. Digital technologies are empowering people to take more control of their health and lead healthier lives.
The World Heart Federation indicates: “Our partnership with Philips brings a unique perspective given their clinical expertise and insights into consumers. Together we support the WHO goal of reducing premature deaths from cardiovascular disease by at least 25 per cent by the year 2025.”