Every year, on September 29, the world comes together to celebrate World Heart Day.
It’s a day dedicated to our most vital organ, a day that reminds us of the importance of heart health. But the significance of World Heart Day goes beyond this date.
It’s a call to action, a plea to make heart health a lifelong commitment, and an opportunity to raise awareness for a cause that impacts all lives.
With non-communicable diseases (NCDs) being the leading cause of deaths in the country, cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke) contribute to why so many Fijians are dying prematurely.
This year, the theme is Know heart: With ‘know heart’. It aims to empower individuals to take control of their well-being as knowledge about heart health is limited.
But even with the limited knowledge, it is of critical importance to ‘accelerate actions to prevent, detect and manage cardiovascular diseases’, says WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh.
The World Heart Day celebration in the Capital on Friday saw government agencies, schools and stakeholders amplifying the awareness platform.
A teacher said stakeholders must rally for this cause because the heart is the lifeline being that it is the most vital organ in the body.
Our hearts work tirelessly, pumping blood and oxygen to every cell, ensuring our bodies function as they should. Yet, too often, we take this remarkable organ for granted.
The beat of life continues, and it’s our responsibility to ensure that our hearts keep rhythm with it. World Heart Day is a reminder of this responsibility, but let it also be a catalyst for change that extends far beyond a single day.
Let us make heart health a lifelong priority, for our own sake and for the well-being of future generations.
Story By: Ranoba Baoa
Feedback: ranobab@fijisun.com.fj