Medical experts in the country said on Thursday that they have found solutions that would help in fighting heart problems and causes of its diseases.

Through their newly launched Rwanda Heart Foundation (RHF), the specialists anticipate that charitable efforts could help achieve mass treatment of heart diseases among Rwandans.

Last year’s pilot survey in Kigali city involving 960 patients singled out the lack of public awareness as the major stumbling block to government efforts to treat heart diseases.

However, while the pilot study showed lack of public awareness in heart diseases, it is not clear if this translates into the disease’s inadequate treatment among the patients.

Cardiologist Dr Joseph Mucumbitsi, the chairman of RHF described the need for public awareness as the clear-cut approach to address the problem.

"We want to identify the exact number of people suffering from heart related diseases so that we can be able to notice the kind of treatment they need," said Mucumbitsi at inaugural ceremony of RHF at Hotel Novotel Umubano, Kigali.

While officiating at the function State Minister in charge of HIV/Aids and Other Infectious Diseases, Dr Innocent Nyaruhirira, said that the inauguration of the foundation as an exciting discovery.

"This inauguration has essentially confirmed that you can control the risks of heart attacks at their early stages, since some of them associated daily human lifestyles," he said

He noted that the benefits projected could be realised over a longer period as RHF is in its early stages of performance.

Present at the function was Senate President, Dr Vincent Biruta, Senator Dr Odette Nyiramirimo, and other officials from local and international health organisations.

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