Report: 10th World Heart Day (WHD) Milestone Celebration in Nigeria.

In September 2010, the Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) in Partnership with Grand Cereals, Costain West Africa and Chike Okoli Foundation rolled out the drums to celebrate the 10th World Heart Day Milestone in Nigeria, themed 'Work Place Wellness; take Responsibility for your own Heart-health.'

In preparation for the big occasion, NHF inaugurated an Organizing Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Jude Duru-Onweni, a Cardiopulmonary Consultant Physician and medical adviser of Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Plc, who worked with NHF to plan and identify programmes and activities that would help to draw National attention to the often neglected cardiovascular disease.

On Tuesday, August 17, a pre-event media briefing was held at NHF, Ikoyi corporate Office, Lagos. Briefing newsmen, the World Heart Day Organizing Committee Chairman, Dr. Duru-Onweni said the 'World Heart Federation is targeting the Workplace to promote long-term behavioural changes that will benefit employers, employees and communities'. He said that Chronic Heart diseases contribute more than 40% of lost of productivity Man-hours in the Work place. Speaking separately, Dr. Nwachukwu, a member of the Organizing Committee, and Joy Unegbu, Communication Manager NHF, noted that a lot of Nigerians die daily as a result of diseases whose complications are preventable and controllable and regretted that many will die if measures are not put in place. They called upon Governments at all levels, Health care Professionals, Employers, Employees and Individuals to reduce the burden of Heart Disease and stroke.

The World Heart Day 2010, celebration in Nigeria started on Tuesday, September 14 2010, with a road show which was flagged-off and led by the Managing Director of Costain West Africa, Mr. Ayodeji Karim at the Costain Premises. The Road show train which comprised of Music, Dancers, all Management and Staff of Costain, Organizing Committee Members and Members of NHF and Nigerians took off from the popular Costain Bus-Stop through outer Marina and to inner Marina.

At the ever busy inner Marina-commercial nerve centre of Lagos, the train stopped to give informational leaflets and Posters as the Music blared to the rhythmic choreographed dancing steps of the professional dancers who danced to the admiration of Executives, who came out of their offices to watch and passersby who equally joined in the dancing spree. From Marina, the train made their way to Awolowo Road, Ikoyi which is home to many Corporate Offices. The leaflets were handed to executives in offices and passersby to educate them on the importance of Heart-health. The Road show train made a final stop at Falomo where there were more sharing of leaflets and posters, dancing, merriments and entertainments by all participants.

The World Heart day celebration continued on Saturday, September 18, with the Heart Walk. Flagging off the Heart Walk at the National Stadium Surulere, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, UAC Nigeria, Mr. JID Dada said Work place is the ideal setting to promote healthy-Heart messages and raise awareness about risk factors of cardiovascular disease and preventive measures as most of us spend half our waking hours working. He enjoined Nigerians to be more active, be careful of what you eat and stop tobacco smoking, Dada said.

Further, the President of African Heart Network, Dr. K.K Akinroye called upon individuals to take responsibility for their own Heart-health by eating nutritionally balanced Diet, exercising regularly and say 'I work with Heart'. Again, Dr. Duru-Onweni called on employers to 'improve the well being of their employees; help and encourage them to increase efficiency, proficiency and productivity'. Informational leaflets distributed during the Walk were provided by Chike Okoli Foundation.

On the 22 and 23, September, the World Heart Day celebration moved to two important Work places; Ojota Motor Park and Iponri Market where NHF organised Free health Screening for the staff of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW) and Market men and Women. The people came out in large numbers to be screened for Blood Pressure. Members of Staff from Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Blood Pressure Foundation and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital attended to more than 500 people who were screened. Some of the Participants were counselled on management of risk factors for Heart disease, drugs were recommended to some while some cases were recommended to Government hospitals for further tests and observations. Participants were advised to go for regular health screening especially those above 40 years old.