Alotau hospital marks World Heart Day with focus on health worker screening
The Alotau Provincial Hospital in Milne Bay Province commemorated World Heart Day with Non-communicable Disease [NCD] screening under the global theme 'Don't Miss a Beat'.
The World Heart Day is observed globally on 29 September annually, aimed at raising awareness on detection and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
The two-day program, led by APH Internal Medicine and the Public Health disease control team, commenced yesterday and concludes today at the At40 clinic. Staff members of the Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority [MBPHA] at its heardquarters in Alotau were at the center of the screening process.
The MBPHA chief executive officer Dr Perista Mamadi was first to undergo this screening yesterday.
The screening includes blood pressure and hypertension checks, blood sugar testing, body mass index, and general assessment of cardiovascular risks factors.
The initiative is aligned with the global World Heart Day campaign which promotes early detection and prevention of heart diseases.
With the two-days program focused on screening health workers, APH physician Dr Dennis Tony says the wellbeing of every health worker is paramount.
"Strengthening early detection and management of cardiovascular risks factors across our health workers is very important," he said.
"We believe this program will bring a meaningful contribution to reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases among our health workers.
"We would also like to ensure that all our medical staff are well and healthy to provide care to patients and clients."
Meanwhile, Disease Control Coordinator and Acting Deputy Director of Public Health, Tony Lota said lifestyle choices can have a direct impact on heart health.
"Smoking, continuous intake of fatty foods, excessive intake of alcohol and lack of physical exercise can put a strain on the heart's health," he said.
Lota is encouraging everyone to take their health seriously and undergo regular medical check-ups to ensure that the heart is healthy.
The World Heart Day screening is part of APH and MBPHA's ongoing efforts to address risking burden of non-communicable diseases in Milne Bay Province.