Health experts have asked employers to establish designated places at their respective work places for carrying out physical exercise.
The remarks were made as the country commiserated the World Heart Day to raise awareness about heart diseases.
This year’s theme is “Use Heart, to beat cardiovascular diseases.”
Experts urged the population to continue doing more on prevention of heart diseases through community outreaches, campaigns and in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility to reach out to people countrywide.
According to Dr. James Magara, the board chairman, Uganda Heart Institute, even though many people have already sustained preventable heart diseases, they still need to be educated about how to prevent its rapid progression into a debilitating disease.
He reminded everyone to make sure they listen to the continuing heart education series running across different local media platforms.
“This, more than ever requires us to adapt to individual heart-healthy choices like healthy eating habits, avoiding tobacco and exercising regularly,” he said.
Addressing the journalists at Uganda Media Centre, the Executive Director, Uganda Heart Institute, Dr. John Omagino said regular physical exercise will help reduce cases of cardiovascular related diseases among the community.
He said in Uganda 1 in every 4 adults have hypertension, but only 20% are aware of the disease, warning that if not checked these may be part of the 23 million anticipated premature deaths globally by 2030.
“In this time of COVID-19, cardiovascular disease patients are at an increased risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19 disease,” he said.
