Foundation to Intensify Fight against Heart Diseases
The Cameroon Heart Foundation (CAMHEF), has declared that it would intensify the fight against heart diseases this year in the ten regions of country. The declaration was made last Thursday, February 12 at the Meridien Hotel’s conference hall in Douala. Speaking during a press briefing, followed by the presentation of New Year wishes to the entire press, Professor Daniel Lomougoum, the President of the association whose objective is dedicated to the fight against cardio-vascular diseases, said urgent measures must be taken to eradicate the progress of the disease in Cameroon because the diseases are connected with the heart and blood vessels and constitute a big killer in the country.
“Our action plan, this year, will permit us to organise the 1st National Forum on the Heart in Maroua. which will take place in November with representatives and experts of several countries. It will aim at sensitising the populations of Cameroon in general and those of the rural areas in particular, on the consequences of cardio-vascular diseases. In September 2010, we shall; organise a sensitisation campaign in the 10 regions of Cameroon, with a big march of the Heart in Ebolowa. Still on the 2010 agenda, there is the World Hypertension Day, with the 2nd symposium on hypertension on the 17th of May this year. It shall be commemorated this year under the theme “Obesity, let’s control one’s weight to avoid hypertension”. We do no forget the International Salt Day which we will celebrate, because the salt we eat is also a big cause of cardio-vascular diseases. So it is so important”, Professor Daniel Lomougoum explained.
In the second part of the press conference, the CAMHEF’s President focussed on the situation of cardio-vascular diseases in Cameroon, and precisely in the Littoral Region. Talking to the press, he said the country is ravaged by diseases related to heart. “More and more, there are people around us who are victims of sudden deaths, and which many see as being normal. This is not true. They simply die of heart attacks or hypertension. We must stop the bleeding”, he quipped.
Prof. Lomougoum added that “out of 100 patients who suffer from cardiac failure in Belgium where I work as cardiologist, less than 60 are saved, inspite of the strong equipment deployed by the Belgian government”. This means that the disease is so dangerous and claims the lives of about 18 million people in the world every year.
During the chat with the press, Professor Daniel Lomougoum said “out of this number of people who die worldwide every year, 1.5 million come from Africa”.
On the situation of Cameroon, the President of the Cameroon Heart Foundation, indicated that though no exact study has been made nationally, studies carried out in 2008 in the Littoral Region, precisely in Douala, Dibombari and Manjo, show that 37 percent of people living in Douala suffer from hypertension as against 27 percent in Manjo and Dibombari. Such figures, he said, are appalling because “20 years ago, less than 15 percent of the Douala population had the disease against 5 percent in Dibombari and Manjo”, he hinted.
On the causes of this terrible disease that is on the sharp increase in the country, Professor Lomougoum says there are factors such as the high consumption of salt and cholesterol, physical inactivity, the failure in the consumption of fruits and vegetables etc. Created in 2004 to free Cameroon from cardio-vascular diseases, the Foundation, through its members, have already trained more than 1500 medical doctors, nurses, to face the disease. One of its new members is the famous Cameroonian musician, Sam Mbende, who now is the Vice-President in charge of Cooperation and International relations.
By Joseph Roland Djotie
