9th edition of the National Week for the Heart launched

The ninth edition of the National Week of the Heart themed "Sudden death: dare to save", has been launched. The one week celebration which ends on September 30, 2014 is due to cerebral vascular accident (stroke) which occurs every 5 hours, mortality rate of 25% a month and 60% at 5 years.

Previous editions had previously focused only on the prevention of strokes and heart attacks. Through intense campaigns of free screening of hypertension, diabetes, obesity and heart rhythm disorders, the Cameroonian Foundation of the heart is given for mission awareness. And in addition to awareness, emphasis is placed, this time on the formation of the public and workers on the gestures which save in the event of a sudden crisis.

Less than 20 years ago, stroke was almost unfamiliar to the people of in Cameroon. Today, they have become a real public health problem. They kill more people than road accidents and now represent the 2nd cause of mortality in Cameroon after infectious diseases.

Strokes, according to the finding of the Cameroonian Foundation of the heart, are also the main cause of long-term neurological disability.

Ghislain Ebang a victim of stroke in 2013 and supported by the Cameroonian Foundation of the heart said, "Effective prevention based on the knowledge of risk factors and early detection associated with a speed of support based on the knowledge of the

Aterienne Hypertension (HTA) is the dominant Cameroon risk factor. It is involved in more than 80% of diagnosed cases of stroke. The HTA is unfortunately very often un-recognized and discovered at the detour of its major complication.

Diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, chronic alcoholism, stress, heart rhythm disorders, aterio malformations a type of cerebral aneurysm are risk factors that need to be identified early.

In order to be more effective, the Cameroon heart Foundation also went towards businesses. Cardiac resuscitation courses, conferences to raise awareness about the prevention of stroke and sudden death were organized.

"It has been shown in Cameroon, out of 100 cases of stroke, 80 are employees of private companies or public para," explains François Naser, Coordinator of the Cameroonian Foundation of the heart and professional football coach.

For stroke, the medical care of a patient must be extremely urgent. It must be done quickly, to keep all chances of full recovery or at least with the minimum possible sequelae, within 3 hours after the onset of the first warning signs.

Problem of access to emergency in Cameroonian hospitals care is not always obvious. Held in Yaoundé from the first international forum of health under the theme "Hospital of the future, what perspective for the year 2035" is therefore an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the Government in the process of reform for the public health in Cameroon.