HFJ Stages Several Activities for Heart Month

The Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) is staging a series of activities for the month of February, which is being observed as Heart Month, under the theme ‘Prevent Heart Failure, Get Screened, Keep the Beat’.

The Month was officially launched on Tuesday, January 31, at The Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, with the keynote speech delivered by General Family Practitioner, Dr. Garth Rattray.

Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank, on February 6, Senior Manager, Health Services at the HFJ, Monique Willis, RN, said that the Foundation is using the month of activities to sensitise the public about cardiovascular disease and how persons can help to reduce their risk by getting screened.

“We will be on the road at different locations, like HiLo Supermarkets in Liguanea and Cross Roads, so we will be going out to meet the public to encourage persons to know their numbers,” she said.

Ms. Willis pointed out that screening services are available to the public at the HFJ’s Beechwood Avenue offices, as well as at health centres across the island.

She issued a special invitation for persons within the Corporate Area to come to the HFJ’s headquarters for screening. Ms. Willis pointed out that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Jamaica and that persons can help themselves to reduce the risk of getting cardiovascular disease by getting screened.

“The HFJ offers electrocardiogram (ECG), cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, body mass index as well as advanced diagnostic services,” Ms. Willis said.

“We offer Holter Monitoring, Stress Echocardiogram and a wide variety of cardiovascular care, like a one-stop shop for your heart, so there is something that you can do for yourself, which is to get screened so that you can keep the beat,” she added.

As the HFJ continues to highlight the importance of learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the Foundation will also host Family and Friends CPR Day on February 24, and is inviting interested persons to contact the Foundation to register.

“We are inviting everyone to sign up for this. You don’t have to be medical. We will be able to train you on how to function in an emergency. If you have a medical emergency, instead of waiting for assistance, there are things that you can do to help to sustain life until you get that help, so join us on that day and get registered so that you can get trained on how to manage yourself in a medical emergency until you get assistance,” Ms. Willis said.

A second outside broadcast will follow on February 27 at the HFJ, after which the Foundation will close out the month with the Annual Medical Symposium and the Dr. Knox Hagley Memorial Lecture.

This will be held virtually on Wednesday, February 28, under the theme ‘The Pathway to Longevity’.

The Lecture will be delivered by President and CEO of One Heart LLC in Baltimore and Director of Cardiology at the Grace Medical Center, Dr. Athol Morgan.

The registration link is available on the HFJ website and Instagram and Facebook pages.

Heart Month is observed annually during the month of February to promote cardiovascular health and to raise awareness about heart disease.