Most Respected Dr. Harsh Vardhan (Minister of Health and Family Welfare Govt. of India),
On World Heart Day Indian Association of Clinical Cardiologists (IACC) and World heart federation (WHF) wants to bring this subject to the government’s attention to prioritize CVD in national plans for prioritization of heart-healthy environments, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
Dr Rajesh Rajan National President of Indian Association of Clinical Cardiologists (IACC) urges on behalf of IACC to our government to consider making cardiovascular disease (CVD) a national priority in India.
Making CVD a real national priority. It means:
- Adopting a multisectorial policies or a ‘health-in-all’ approach: CVD is a disease that is affected by the food we eat, our physical activity and where we live. There needs to be increased recognition from other sectors outside of health – like agriculture, transport and urban planning – that heart disease and stroke are factors to be considered in decision making and planning.
- Supporting and national CVD target and policies: the World Heart Federation is working towards a 25% reduction in premature deaths from CVD, which reflects the World Health Organization’s goal of reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025. Therefore, we urge you to support the global and national CVD target and policies.
- Placing CVD on the global health agenda: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are currently being debated and will be agreed by the United Nations in 2015, setting the global health and development donor agenda for the next 15 years. We ask for you to call for CVD to be included and prioritized in the SDGs, by raising awareness of the burden of heart disease and stroke as political, financial and health issues across a range of sectors in your country.
- Regulating the amount and reach of fast-food advertising on television and radio.
- Developing legislation to tax unhealthy foods and support locally produced fruits and vegetables.
- Enforcing regulations for control of tobacco use and ban its marketing and advertising.
- Ensuring cost-effective clinical interventions for early detection and reduction of risk factors in individuals at high risk of CVD.
DR.RAJESH RAJAN M.D, Ph.D, D.Card, F.E.S.C., F.A.C.C.,F.A.H.A.
PRESIDENT - INDIAN ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL CARDIOLOGISTS
www.accindia.org
"CVD is the world’s number one killer responsible for 3 in every 10 deaths. "