Primary Health Care Corporation medical staff check people’s blood pressure, BMI, blood sugar, weight and height.
DOHA: The need to increase awareness about factors for cardiovascular diseases among the public has been stressed by healthcare experts.
Dr Aiman Abu Ajina, PHCC Family Medicine Specialist, said that according to data on the World Heart Federation Website, every year 17.3 million people are affected by heart diseases. “It is important to increase awareness and educate students, staff and dependents on hypertension and its impact on health by explaining its risks because the high blood pressure can lead to cardiovascular diseases,” he said.
He also highlighted activities when Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) took part in World Heart Day campaign organised by Qatar Foundation under the slogan ‘Take the road to a healthy heart’ led by World Heart Federation.
The campaign was created in 2000 to warn people around the globe that heart diseases and stroke are the world’s leading causes of death.
Dr Ajina said: ‘Based on the same source, by 2030, it is expected that 23 million people will die from cardiovascular diseases annually, and this pushes us to raise awareness about the importance of exercise for at least 30 minutes a day to reduce the risk of such diseases.”
Through this participation, PHCC aims at achieving one of the key principles of Qatar’s National Primary Health Strategy — to involve the communities such as schools, religious places, organisations and businesses.
PHCC provided a medical team of three doctors and eight nurses who checked blood pressure, BMI, blood sugar, weight and height of people and discussed results through a full feedback form and a presentation on risks of heart diseases.
PHCC, as first provider of primary health care in Qatar, is working on fighting against the heart disease and stroke and educating the community on risks of cardiovascular diseases through workshops, lectures and activities to build a healthy society.
The Peninsula
