Join the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA in spreading love this Valentine's month
Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa kicks a soccer ball in support living a healthy lifestyle.
Image: Supplied
February, the month of love, is the perfect time to show your heart-healthy love by supporting the vital work of the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA).
The foundation's chief executive officer, Professor Pamela Naido,o urges the public and organisations to join their advocacy and mobilisation efforts.
"The HSFSA’s value lies in creating public awareness with impact, ultimately resulting in positive health outcomes," she said.
Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa teams include health promotion and health risk assessment, and cross-cutting teams who engage in community-based events and partnership events.
Image: Supplied
This month, the HSFSA launches its annual fundraising drive, Heart-to-Heart Giving, to reduce the burden of heart disease and strokes, which tragically account for almost one in six deaths in South Africa, more than all cancers combined.
Funds raised during Valentine's Month will go towards enhancing and expanding the HSFSA’s existing programmes, delivered by dedicated teams focusing on health promotion, risk assessment, and nutrition.
Professor Naidoo said the HSFSA’s mission was clear: To tackle heart disease, strokes, and major associated risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption.
As a non-profit health organisation, the HSFSA relies heavily on donations to fund its programmes, which primarily target communities with limited access to health services and education.
Professor Naidoo stressed that 70 percent to 80 percent of heart disease and strokes can be prevented through healthy behavioural choices.
The HSFSA actively promotes prevention through its outreach activities, including school-based programmes and activations in public spaces like shopping malls.
The Foundation's health mark endorsement programme is a key tool, guiding consumers to make healthy food choices - a scientifically recognised step in reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The HSFSA needs donor funding to sustain its work for years to come.
The foundation is set to visit various schools, shopping centres, and other specific locations to raise funds and raise awareness of the risks associated with CVD.
This initiative will involve the sale of branded merchandise.
Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa's registered dieticians Cari Erasmus and Shonisani Nephalama.
Image: Supplied
The general public is encouraged to support the HSFSA's fundraising efforts by purchasing heart mark-endorsed food products at supermarkets, visiting the HSFSA's website to make direct donations, or contributing through the MySchool, MyVillage, MyPlanet programmes.
Additionally, both private and public sector employers can assist the foundation's mission by booking its services, which focus on self-care and wellbeing through health talks, health risk assessments, individual counseling, mental state evaluations, and referrals for medical attention when necessary, particularly concerning CVD.
For more information on the HSFSA, including the heart mark endorsement programme, and to donate, visit their website or find them at www.facebook.com/HeartStrokeSA, www.x.com/SAHeartStroke, and www.instagram.com/heartstrokesa_
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