Department of Healthier population and Nutrition of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office organized a Webinar on WHO South-East Asia HEARTS initiative (SEA HEARTS) to observe the World Heart Day on 29 September 2022. SEA-HEARTS will serve as a platform to promote heart health and to reduce premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD), stroke, and diabetes and a collective force to change the trajectory of CVDs in WHO South-East Asia Region countries.
The focus of the Webinar was to showcase the ongoing work in WHO South-East Asia Region as a cross-learning opportunity, bring together the global partners in promoting cardiovascular health, and to obtain the support of everyone to promote cardiovascular health. Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director called for strengthened political will and accountability with a focus on the full implementation of the WHO HEARTS technical package. Prof Fausto Pinto, President, World Heart Federation, Dr Xin-Hua Zhang, President, World Hypertension League, Ms Aminath Maeesha, Vice President, Tiny Hearts of Maldives and Dr Monika Arora, President-Elect NCD Alliance reiterated the crucial role played by the global partners and pledged their support to SEA HEARTS.
Dr Cherian Varghese, Regional Adviser, NCD, WHO SEARO presented the scope of SEA HEARTS for accelerating CVD prevention and control.
Dr Tom Frieden, President & CEO, Resolve to Save Lives, Padmashri Dr Balram Bhargava, Chief, Cardiothoracic Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, Dr Jeyaraj Pandian, Professor of Neurology, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, India and Vice-President, World Stroke Organization, Ms Chhmi Lhamu, Deputy Nursing Superintendent, National Referral Hospital, Bhutan, Prof Prakit Vathesatogkit, of Action on Smoking and Health Foundation, Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury, Professor & Head- National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute, Bangladesh, Dr Champika Wickremasinghe, Deputy Director General (NCD), Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, Mr Manoj Jhalani, Director, Health Systems Development, WHO SEARO, made presentations, highlighting the successful implementation and positive impact of elements of the WHO technical packages in the South-East Asia Region. A total of 332 participants attended the Webinar.