St. Michael’s Specialist Hospital organizes free health screening on world heart day
St. Michael’s Specialist Hospital organized a free Heart Health screening event today in celebration of World Heart Day, which takes place every September 29.
This global initiative, supported by the World Heart Federation and the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases and their significant impact on public health.
The event attracted over 200 participants, who received various health screenings at the hospital’s premises.
Activities included assessments for Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure, heart rate, and sugar levels, among others.
Dr. Lawrence Agyeman Serebour, a medical specialist at St. Michael’s, addressed the media, highlighting the pressing need for awareness regarding heart disease, which is a leading cause of death worldwide.
“Every year, over 20 million people die from heart diseases and stroke,” emphasizing the importance of implementing effective health policies to reduce these numbers, he stated.
Dr. Serebour identified key contributors to heart disease, including obesity, alcoholism, and smoking—noting that smoking shisha can be particularly harmful, equating one hour of shisha smoking to smoking 100 cigarettes.
“An hour of smoking shisha is equivalent to smoking 100 sticks of cigarettes,” he echoed.
He urged young people to adopt healthier lifestyles through regular exercise, and avoiding tobacco, and to visit the hospital after every 6 months to check their heart.
Participants expressed gratitude for the initiative, stating that such programs are crucial for educating the community about the importance of regular cardiac checkups.
Many hope that St. Michael’s will continue to host similar events in the future, reinforcing the hospital’s commitment to promoting heart health and wellness in the community.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Charles Nyamedi
