On the occasion of the World Heart Day which takes place on September 29, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) launched on Monday an advanced edition of the “Heart Experts” program, through which, the ministry is targeting to provide 20 students from the American University of Sharjah with hands-on-training to be awareness ambassadors and role models for their friends and families to adopt a healthy lifestyle and also to take part in saving lives of those suffering from a sudden heart attack.
MoHAP said that it looks forward to exploiting this initiative to invite the health institutions in government and private sector to partner in the achievement of the national indicator for reducing cardiovascular deaths.
“Heart Experts” program is running in collaboration with the National Ambulance, the Ministry of Education, American Heart Association, healthy shopping centers, and Sports and Recreational Activities Department at the American University of Sharjah.
Starting from September 23 to October 16, the program consists of 5 stages including a series of training workshops aiming to train university students to be qualified to promote healthy life practices and serve as supporters in dealing with all emergency situations of persons with cardiac emergencies and develop a follow-up plan between MoHAP and trainees to conduct more future events on campus.
Promoting Cardiovascular Health Practices within Universities
H.E. Dr. Youssif Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Ministry’s Hospitals Sector of Cardiovascular Diseases, said: “World Heart Day is an important occasion to raise community awareness about the impact of cardiovascular disease on the quality of life and mortality resulting from these diseases in which prevention plays a key role.”
The Heart Experts Program, which falls under the Unified Policy for Achieving the National Cardiovascular Disease Indicator according to the National Agenda 2021, aims to promote cardiovascular health practices in universities and contribute to the integration of the student segment in the process of reducing the percentage of side effects and deaths from cardiac arrest, strokes, and emergencies.”
The program also aims to ensure the sustainability of university activities that make the university a friendly environment for cardiovascular health and the dissemination of concepts that encourage healthy practices for youth.
5 Training Workshops
“This edition of the "Heart Experts" provides an advanced level of contribution of young generations in the fight against cardiovascular disease. The program includes a number of training workshops that require high-level intellectual and practical skills. The first workshop will focus on the UAE’s efforts and its national strategic action to combat this global health burden. The workshop will also summarize the national policies and plans aiming to achieve the indicator.” said Dr. Mona Al Kuwari, Director of the Specialized Care Department.
She added: “In the second workshop, the students will receive training by Dr. Ahmed Al-Qabroun, Cardiologist and representative of the American Heart Association; Dr Osama Al Lala, Consultant-Sport and Exercise Medicine, Ministry of Education to work out the factors governing the achievement of a high quality of life over a lifetime, and health practices that are commensurate with these factors.”
The third workshop will be dedicated to training students on how to respond correctly and quickly in cases of heart attacks. This will contribute to facilitating the intervention of the ambulance team and thus raising the survival rate of the injured.
Al Kuwari went on saying: “In the fourth workshop, trainers from the Health Shopping Center, Healthy Farm Eatery, and the Department of Sports and Recreational Activities at the American University of Sharjah will train students on healthy shopping skills and appropriate rules to practice physical activities and utilize services and sports clubs provided by the university.”
The last workshop will be focusing on the educational and psychological methods that should be used in setting goals to modify health behaviors and work to achieve them.
Furthermore, a future plan for the sustainability of activities at the university is also being developed to create a friendly environment that promotes cardiovascular health.
At the end of the program, students will receive certificates of participation as well as training certificates granted by the National Ambulance in the application of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).