Health minister’s message on World Heart Day |29 September 2016

‘Let’s all take action to keep our hearts charged’

Health minister Mitcy Larue is urging everyone to take action to keep our hearts charged and make a lasting difference to our health.

The call comes in Minister Larue’s message to mark World Heart Day today.

The minister’s message reads:

“World Heart Day is a worldwide platform for raising awareness about cardiovascular disease, including heart disease (latak leker) and stroke (latak laservel). Cardiovascular disease claims 17.5 million lives each year worldwide. In Seychelles, heart disease and stroke account for approximately 40% of all deaths and these diseases also are a leading cause of disability for survivors. Yet, cardiovascular disease is largely preventable.

“This is why the theme of World Heart Day this year is ‘Power your life, know your risk’. This catch phrase aims at encouraging every person to know the values of their blood pressure, blood sugar, blood cholesterol and body weight. People do not necessarily feel symptoms and signs when these conditions are abnormal. This emphasises that everyone should test for these conditions at regular intervals, e.g. once every one or two years. If any of these conditions is abnormal, medical treatment is often necessary and will need to be taken for many years. Every citizen in Seychelles can be screened for free for these conditions at any health center. Hence, check for these conditions, know your numbers (body weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and blood cholesterol), and take treatment if advised to do so.

“World Health Day is also an occasion to reflect on the need for creating heart-healthy environments to ensure that people are able to make heart-healthy choices wherever they live, work and play. Consistent with this aim, the Ministry of Health is organising a technical consultation involving several experts from the World Health Organisation and local experts to review fiscal policies to promote healthy nutrition in the Seychelles. Sugary drinks, including soft drinks and manufactured flavoured drinks are a main cause of obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay. There is clear evidence that taxes applied to sugar-sweetened beverages can reduce the consumption of these beverages and reduce the raising prevalence of obesity and diabetes. This approach was re-emphasised during a review by the World Health Organisation in June 2016. Therefore, a ‘Stakeholders meeting’ involving representatives of different sectors of government, private sector, and civil society, take place yesterday to discuss fiscal and other measures to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks and to increase the consumption of water, as two of several key measures to curb the rocketing prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the country.

“I urge every Seychellois to adopt healthy behaviour to ‘power their heart health’ and prevent cardiovascular disease. This means abstaining from smoking, exercising 30 minutes or more every day (which may be simply walking), avoiding harmful use of alcohol, and adopting a healthy diet by limiting sugary drinks, salt and energy-dense foods and favouring fruits, vegetables and water.

“Therefore, on this World Heart Day, let’s make sure we all take action to keep our hearts charged and make a lasting difference to our health. Our health is first and foremost our responsibility, it begins with you.”