SEAHEARTS -World’s largest expansion of CVD control in primary health care

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are leading cause of death, representing 30% (3.9 million) of the total 13.2 million deaths in the WHO South-East Region. Risk reduction and coverage of hypertension and diabetes are suboptimal in the region. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified disruptions in essential cardiovascular services. The WHO PEN and HEARTS technical packages showcased some positive outcomes after implementation. India and Thailand, through simplified protocols, team-based care, and robust monitoring, doubled hypertension control rates in 9 million individuals by 2022. A focused effort is needed to further accelerate the control of CVD burden through risk reduction and management of hypertension and diabetes. Member States of the Region have recognized the challenge and with the support of WHO has agreed to scale up CVD control.

SEAHEARTS Initiative, brings risk factor reduction measures (tobacco control, salt reduction and eliminating industrially produced trans-fatty acids) with interventions to improve the treatment cascade of hypertension and diabetes in primary health care on a single platform. ‘SEAHEARTS -Dhaka Call to Action — accelerating the control of cardiovascular diseases in a quarter of the world’s’ was endorsed by the 76^th Regional Committee of the WHO South-East Asia Region. Outlined with four milestones to achieve by 2025, including placing 100 million people with hypertension and diabetes on protocol-based management and expanded coverage of tobacco control (one billion), salt reduction (one billion) and elimination of trans-fats (two billion), SEAHEARTS will be a game changer. The SEAHEARTS initiative will guide countries to accelerate prioritized interventions that includes equipping adequately primary health care facilities with medicines, devices and a competent workforce to reach the planned coverage and control of hypertension and diabetes. SEAHEARTS has already placed more than 25 million people on treatment of hypertension and diabetes and substantial coverage of risk factors [1] making it feasible to achieve the ambitious targets.