KIGALI - RWANDA Heart Foundation will tomorrow begin a one-week campaign aimed at creating awareness of cardiovascular heart diseases to conclude on September 26, World Heart Day.

Under the patronage of the Minister of Health, Dr.Richard Sezibera, various activities such as free check-ups will be performed  within the framework of celebration of the World Heart Day 2010.

This year’s theme is ‘I WORK WITH HEART’ which aims at alerting employers and their employees to prevent heart diseases.

"The more development comes, the more doors are opened for cardiovascular heart diseases because development comes with more relaxation and hence less exercises with sitting a lot and changing of eating habits which gives way to these preventable diseases,” Dr. Joseph Mucumbitsi said yesterday.

In conjunction with the Parliamentarians’ network for population and development (RPRPD) and the Association for the Promotion of Sports at Workplaces (ARTPST), Rwanda heart foundation will tip civil servants on how to prevent cardiovascular heart diseases at the work place.

According to Mucumbitsi the targeted civil servants are those working in the Prime Minister’s office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rwanda Revenue authority, Office of the Auditor General and National Electoral Commission, among others.

He said that about 700 participants from those institutions are expected to participate in a walk for the heart of 6 km or 12 km. The 6km walk will be from Amahoro national stadium to Kigali Business Centre (KBC) roundabout and back to the stadium while the 12km one will also commence from Amahoro stadium to the Kacyiru round-about near the American Embassy then back to the stadium.

After the walk, civil servants are expected to get free check ups for any cardiovascular heart diseases, including tests for weight and height, waist circumference, blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

"In the previous campaigns whereby we carried out free check ups, unexpected patients were diagnosed with these preventable diseases,” Mucumbitsi said yesterday.

The campaign will also include the distribution of leaflets with information on cardiovascular heart diseases, live talk shows on several radio stations and Rwanda Television.

Ends