JKCI organizes free heart screening camp

DAR ES SALAAM: AS part of World Heart Day (WHD) commemoration that will be observed tomorrow, the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) has organised a special two-day medical camp for providing free heart screening and treatment for residents of Dar es Salaam and neighboring regions.

JKCI Executive Director, Dr Peter Kisenge told journalists on Friday that the services dubbed ‘Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan Outreach Services’ are aimed to raise awareness about the disease.

“The camp will have heart specialists and nutrition experts who will provide education on proper nutrition, to help the public understand and adapt healthy lifestyles to prevent Non-Communicable Diseases (NDCs), including heart related complications, which can be avoided by following professional advice,” said Dr Kisenge
He said the screening will be conducted free of charge for both children and adults today and tomorrow at the JKCI clinic located in Kawe.

“I call upon Dar es Salaam residents and those of neighboring areas to turn out in large numbers to get their health checked, to help them detect any issues earlier, enabling them to protect themselves from the heart ailment,” said Dr Kisenge.

Furthermore, JKCI has also organised a voluntary walk today starting at Palm Village grounds and be concluded at JKCI clinic in Kawe.

Dr Kisenge said the aim of the walk is to encourage the community to engage in exercise as a means of preventing NCDs, including heart diseases.

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‘We encourage the public to attend in large numbers, participate in the walk, and undergo health screenings to determine if they have heart problems so that they can begin treatment earlier”, said Dr Kisenge.

Regarding, WHD, he said it is an important annual event designated to educate the public about heart ailment which contribute to many deaths worldwide.

“The heart-related complications are on the rise both in developing and developed countries, contributing to many deaths, especially sudden deaths. Nearly 17 million people have lost their lives due to heart diseases, therefore, this day has been officially set to raise awareness to the public on factors that contribute to heart diseases, including smoking, lack of exercise, obesity and failure to maintain a healthy diet, such as excessive sugar consumption,” said Dr Kisenge.

He said the theme of this year’s World Heart Day is ‘Use Your Heart, Take Action, Protect Yourself from Heart Diseases, and Help Others’.