Mon Sep 30 05:10:22 UTC 2024: ## World Heart Day 2024: South-East Asia Region Urges “Use Heart for Action” to Combat Cardiovascular Diseases
**New Delhi, India** – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for South-East Asia, Dr. Saima Wazed, issued a strong call to action on World Heart Day 2024, urging individuals and governments to prioritize heart health. This year’s theme, “Use Heart for Action”, highlights the urgent need to address the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in the region.
CVDs remain a major public health concern, responsible for over 18 million deaths globally each year. The South-East Asia Region bears a particularly heavy burden, with CVDs accounting for 3.9 million deaths annually, nearly 30% of all deaths in the region. Alarmingly, nearly half of these deaths occur prematurely, before the age of 70.
The WHO cites modifiable lifestyle factors as the primary drivers of this crisis, including tobacco use, unhealthy diets high in salt, lack of physical activity, and excessive alcohol consumption. Additionally, inadequate management of hypertension, diabetes, and high lipids significantly contributes to the risk of acute CVD events.
The South-East Asia Region, with one in four adults experiencing high blood pressure and one in ten suffering from diabetes, faces a critical situation. Despite the need, less than 15% of people living with these conditions receive effective treatment.
Recognizing the urgency, the WHO South-East Asia Region endorsed the “SEAHEARTS” resolution in 2023, which calls on countries to accelerate prevention and control of CVDs by 2025. Key targets include reducing risk factors such as tobacco use, salt intake, and trans-fatty acids, alongside improving hypertension and diabetes management within primary healthcare systems.
Since the resolution’s endorsement, the region has made significant progress. Over 1.97 billion people are now protected from trans-fatty acids through policy measures, and over 124 million benefit from tobacco control initiatives. Additionally, an estimated 59 million individuals with hypertension and diabetes receive standard care within public health facilities.
Despite these achievements, the WHO emphasizes the need for continued action on several fronts:
* **Individual Empowerment:** Encouraging individuals to adopt healthy lifestyles through quitting tobacco, reducing salt intake, consuming a balanced diet, increasing physical activity, and managing stress are crucial.
* **Government Action:** National governments must prioritize policies to create enabling environments by reducing trans fats in food, strengthening tobacco control laws, and promoting salt reduction initiatives.
* **Strengthening Primary Healthcare:** Countries must invest in high-quality, accessible primary care services for CVD prevention and management, including screening, early detection, and effective treatment for hypertension, diabetes, and high lipid profiles. Digital solutions are essential for improving service coverage and control rates.
* **Regional and Global Collaboration:** Sharing best practices, mobilizing resources, and fostering partnerships among governments, NGOs, and the private sector are vital for reducing CVD complications and improving acute management.
World Heart Day serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to address this critical health challenge. The WHO South-East Asia Region’s call to “Use Heart for Action” emphasizes the urgency of acting now to save lives and create a healthier future for all.
First Piper 