A half-day conference on cardiovascular diseases among women gets under way on Wednesday September 23,  at the International Conference Centre.

Organised by the Women’s Commission of Seychelles along with support from the health ministry’s prevention and control unit for cardiovascular diseases, the conference will feature presentations about cardiovascular diseases in women and a general discussion.

The conference is designed to coincide with World Heart Day, which will be commemorated on Saturday September 27, with the theme of “Cardiovascular Disease and Women.”  The worldwide event is sponsored by the World Heart Federation, the World Health Organisation and UNESCO.

In Seychelles, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) account for approximately 38 percent of all deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. 

Half of all deaths of women older than 50 are due to heart disease, says the ministry.

The conference, along with World Health Day as a whole, aims to increase public awareness on CVD and its related risk factors, with a particular focus on women.

Not only do women count for half of the population, but they also play a major role in influencing the habits of the people around them – their husband, partner, children and extended family and friends, the ministry says.

In addition to Wednesday’s conference, the ministry will be producing posters that feature tips on good habits for a healthy heart.

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