The Zambia Heart and Stroke Foundation recently launched a new initiative designed to educate schoolchildren about rheumatic heart disease and raise awareness of the negative impact that tobacco and alcohol consumption can have on their hearts. The Heart Heroes school campaign is supported by the World Heart Grant Programme.
The activity was organized by the Zambia Heart and Stroke Foundation in collaboration with representatives from the Ministry of Health of Zambia and civil society.
The main event was facilitated by three experts:
Dr Ngosa Mumba, cardiac consultant from the University Teaching Hospital, who talked about the causes of RHD in Children and prevention;
Mr John Mayeya from the Ministry of Health, who facilitated the discussion on health consequences of tobacco use by children;
Mr Francis Phiri, Executive Director of the Mental Health Users Association of Zambia, who address the issue of alcohol consumption.
More than twenty school children participated in the event and promised to say “no to tobacco and alcohol, eat healthier and practice physical activity at least 30 minutes each day”.
