The Ministry of Health and Prevention, MOHAP, has joined the global celebration of World Heart Day with the launch of a series of campaigns and activities aimed at raising health awareness about the risks of cardiovascular diseases.

This year’s event was held under the theme ‘Make Your Story and Share Your Success.’ The launching, which was held in collaboration with the University of Ajman, was attended by Hamad Obaied Taryam Al Shamsi, Director of Ajman Medical District and Dr. Fadila Mohammed Sharif, Director of Education and Health Promotion Department, as well as department managers and staff.

The campaign aims to empower community members to make positive changes to their lifestyle and maintain a healthy heart to reduce the risk of heart diseases, stroke and related risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes by avoiding activities such as smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and psychological stress, among others.

Dr. Hussein Abdel-Rahman Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for Health Clinics and Centers, said that organising the events in conjunction with the World Heart Day falls within the Ministry’s strategic agenda to provide comprehensive and integrated health care in innovative and sustainable ways to ensure the prevention of diseases and promote awareness on healthy lifestyle. It also aims to raise awareness on the importance of early screening of risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases such as obesity due to smoking, lack of physical activity and unhealthy food habits.

Dr. Rand highlighted that the Ministry is keen to reduce the percentage of people suffering from cardiovascular diseases with the aim of improving the national health indicators associated with the number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases per 100,000 population.