Thousands of Ugandans have turned up for a free heart camp organized by Prudential Uganda at city square grounds Kampala.
The second edition of Prudential heart camp has given over 3000 Ugandans access to free heart heart-ups which consisted of ECHO,ECG and advice from professional cardiologists, doctors and nutritionists on how to prevent heart disease.
“Our decision to host the a heart camp was prompted by the rise of Noncommunicable diseases in Uganda.
The last national survey published by the world health organization and ministry of health indicates that in Uganda alone, one out of four adults has high blood pressure which is a major cause of heart disease and other heart related complications” said Arjun Mallik, MD Prudential East Africa.
Addressing the Media at the closing of the camp in Kampala Dr.Okello Emmy, the lead cardiologist from Uganda heart institute, said they have received three kinds of people:
The people who have heart diseases were helped adjust their medication and appropriate referrals were made.
The people who were found to have recently developed heart disease, were advised on how to adjust their lifestyle in order to live a normal life and how to curb the continued progression of the disease, Some interesting statistics from the Prudential heart camp 1.57% were male, 43%female, 2.64% had abnormal blood pressure, majority of whom were between the ages of 32 to 50.
3.61% were overweight.
For only 1.5% had high amounts of sugar in their blood. Some of the abnormalities noted include hypertension, enlarged hearts and diseases of the value.
Dr. Okell called upon all Ugandans to adopt a much healthier lifestyle by exercising, eating right, keeping away from stressful activities, having regular medical check ups among others in order to prevent such diseases.
