Uganda Heart Institute has decided this year, to harness the power of digital health to improve awareness, prevention and management of CVD in Uganda.
Today, Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate the World Heart Day 2021. This year's theme is "Use Heart, to Connect".
Globally, people living with CVD (over 500 million) are and have been at a higher risk of developing severe forms of the COV ID-19 virus. These need joint effort from friends and family to help them attend to their routine and emergency appointments.
Health Minister Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng says this year’s theme "Use Heart, To Connect" is about using your knowledge, compassion and influence to make sure you, your loved ones and the communities you're a part of, have the best chance to live heart-healthy lives.
“It's also about connecting with our own hearts, making sure we're fueling and nurturing them as best we can, and using the power of digital' to connect with almost every heart, everywhere” the Minister said.
While addressing the press in Kampala on Wednesday, Minister Aceng said that Uganda Heart Institute, where most, if not all heart conditions are treated in Uganda is currently accredited by leading centers of excellence worldwide as a center of excellence offering medical treatment, training and research among others, as strategized in the Third National Development Plan. She applauded the Board, the Management team and Staff of Uganda Heart Institute for the initiatives and achievements thus far.
"The numerous successful Heart treatments including open heart surgeries they now routinely carry out are 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” the minister said.
Adding that, “I wish to reiterate that the NRM Government places special emphasis on prevention and early detection in the fight against heart diseases and I urge all other development partners to join hands with UI-II to step up efforts in direction besides enhancing quality care for heart patients. As Government, we are pleased with the work at Uganda Heart Institute especially given the COVID- 19 times where cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients are faced with a double-edged threat. I urge you to continue doing more on prevention of heart diseases through community outreaches, campaigns and in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility to reach out to our people country wide”.
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 (NCI)) premature mortality by 2030.
