MoH UM attends 2023 World Heart Day ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw

The 2023 World Heart Day commemoration ceremony took place at Nay Pyi Taw’s Wunna Theikdi Gymnasium B yesterday. During the event, Union Minister for Health Dr Thet Khaing Win addressed the audience, highlighting the global impact of heart and cardiovascular diseases, which claim over 20.5 million lives annually. He emphasized that unhealthy lifestyle choices such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption contribute to 85 per cent of these deaths, primarily due to sudden cardiac arrest, cerebral ischemia, cerebral haemorrhages, and strokes.
This year’s World Heart Day theme, “Use Heart, Know Heart,” aligns with the State Administration Council’s social objective of promoting the health and sports sectors to ensure the nation’s life expectancy and well-being.
The Ministry of Health is actively implementing the National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (2023-2027) to reduce the incidence and mortality of non-communicable diseases, including heart and vascular diseases.
Nationwide, 7,476 non-communicable disease screening and treatment clinics, operating from rural health branches levels, provide free screening and treatment every Wednesday. Essential medications and supplies are provided to individuals with basic heart, high blood pressure, and diabetes conditions.
Advanced medical care, using state-of-the-art equipment and technology for heart patients, is available in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, and Mandalay. Collaborations with Southeast Asian and international organizations are underway, with plans to establish Coronary Care Units in regional/state hospitals.
Following the ceremony, the Union minister visited the World Heart Day commemoration gallery and observed heart health screenings on the second day of the event. — MNA/TS