Newsletter | APHN

Useful Resources Links: World Heart Federation; NCD Alliance; UN/World Health Organization; ProCor; Lancet

Interesting Reading/Report

UN NCD Summit: Contact your UN Ambassadors; What is the UN NCD Summit FAQ; NCD Alliance Action Plans for the UN Summit; Letter from UN General Assembly President to NCD Alliance

NCD Campaigns & CVD Related Articles: MJA Editorial NCD Campaign Australia; Best Investment for Physical Activities; The Toronto Charter; Lancet Series on Chronic Diseases & Development; NCD Alliance Newsletter

Contents: 1. World Heart Day 2011 APHN Members' Report; 2. Why Screening is so Important?; 3. Life Saver AED - what about maintenance? -; 4. Story: "It was a heart attack" – the importance of awareness; 5. From the APHN Secretariat; 6. Upcoming International Meetings & Congresses (Nov 2011 - Mar 2012); 7. News around the ASIA - PACIFIC REGION

1. World Heart Day 2011

The World Heart Day 2011 was held all over the world in November. We would like to introduce what our country members have done for CVD prevention & Awareness on World Heart Day 2011. Here are some of the members’ report: Indonesia, Malaysia, and New Zealand (in alphabetic order).

Indonesia Heart Foundation (IHF)
15th September - IHF kicked off their World Heard Day with first holding a press conference and a talk show for journalists. Approximately 40 journalists attended the press conference. As a result, by reaching out to Indonesia's prominent national media, IHF got the word out sucessfully to their people on CVD prevention and on smoking cession. Click here for their report on media report.

25th September, Jakarta – "Flash Mob" was held at JI MH Thamrin (main street in Jakarta) which was conducted by IHF's Youth Heart Club. Many people gathered to participate in the "Hip Heart", one of IHF's special Aerobic dance for youth.

The Heart Foundation of Malaysia
25th September, Kuala Lumpur – World Heart Day 2011 celebrations were successfully carried out on Sunday 25 September 2011 at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. More than 1,500 participants were given free T-Shirts.

The former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched the event with an opening speech and led participants to warming up exercises followed by a 1.3 KM walk around the Park. This was followed by heart healthy breakfast cereals sponsored by Nestle Products Sdn Bhd. Health Talks and Blood Screening for Glucose and Cholesterol were also carried out together with poster exhibition on Heart Disease. Demonstrations of various forms of exercise e.g. Line dancing, jump rope exercises and the Malay Art of self defense were carried out. Prizes were given to winners of the Health Quiz and Lucky Draw numbers.

Click on the image to learn about "Stop the heartbreak"

National Heart Foundation of New Zealand: First Health Manifesto "Stop the Heartbreak" Released!
On World Heart Day, the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand launched a pre-election health manifesto highlighting ten key ‘health hot spots’ the organisation believes are undermining New Zealand’s national health.
It is the first time in the Heart Foundation’s 43 year history that it has released a health manifesto.
Titled ‘Stop the Heartbreak’, the health action plan aims to stimulate wide public debate about key health issues in the lead up to New Zealand’s general election on Nov. 26th, 2011.
“Stop the Heartbreak” highlights tobacco control, the eradication of rheumatic fever and an end of the promotion of unhealthy food to children as key areas for action. It also champions making healthy food and exercise programs more affordable and accessible to all New Zealanders and better systematic assessment and management of cardiovascular risk in Primary Care.

"New Zealand and its politicians need to grapple with some difficult health issues in order to stop them escalating to a point where fixing them is unaffordable. We have never witnessed such a complex raft of social factors as those currently contributing to the nation’s ill health,"

2. Why screening is so important?

Sister to Sister Foundation is a successful Heart Disease Prevention organization with screening over 80,000 women.

"Our Database is unique in that it is diverse – in terms of race, ethnicity, socio-economic level, age, education level, and geographic location – and it is the largest Registry focused on women’s heart health." Says Dr. Lotti Letanoczky, VP International Programs at Sister to Sister Foundation

"The Sister to Sister Foundation was established in 1999 by women’s health advocate Mrs. Irene Pollin, MSW, PhD (Hon) to champion the cause of preventing heart disease in women through education, cardiovascular screenings and behavioral change. As a life-saving resource for thousands of women, Sister to Sister has provided more than 80,000 free heart health screenings and counseling interventions while educating more than 200,000 women at heart health fairs."

A woman’s risk of heart disease can be lowered by approximately 82% just by leading a healthy lifestyle, controlling the risk factors by getting screened, following a heart-healthy diet, getting daily physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing stress and alcohol consumption and not smoking.

"How we do this and why we do it?" Our Database is unique in that it is diverse – in terms of race, ethnicity, socio-economic level, age, education level, and geographic location – and it is the largest Registry focused on women’s heart health. The Pollin Cardiovascular Database is producing cutting-edge research that will help to better understand the causes and development of heart disease in women, while continuing to search for new and better treatments.

We mobilize women to get a heart disease screening and inspire others to follow their lead. Sister to Sister has been helping community leaders and female executives pass on our heart health message to women they influence.

3. Life Saver AED but what about maintenance?

From the moment of a cardiac arrest, it is said approximately 3-5 minutes irreversible brain/tissue damage may occur. For every minute, without being successfully treated by AED, the chance of survival rate decreases by 7% per minute in the first minutes and decreases by 10% per minute as time passes beyond the 3 minutes. If it takes the ambulance to arrive in average of 7 minutes, this is where AED becomes a life saver. Countless lives have been saved.

BUT what if the AED didn’t work? What if there is a mal-function? We assume and count on AED that it works : when we need it. In 2010, FDA has logged over thousands of complaints of malfunctioning AEDs. There have been casualties also reported in Japan due to malfunction of the AEDs. The simple question is, how is it supposed to be maintained? Is the manufacturer checking every single AED? Do you know who is responsible with AED maintenance in your workplace?

Some of top AED manufacturer’s has self-check function to ensure optimal performance, and upon purchase, some will also provide its own safety kit. Here are some points that the manufacturer recommends. However, due to the manufacturer and model, maintenance may differ.

Perform a monthly inspection of your AED device and you want to make sure that :

(a) Green light is flashing (functioning)*
(b) No damage has been done to the device
(c) None of the parts need to be replaced
*Even the light is flashing, still malfunction may happen.

"Where's the AED?!"
(Oxford Sta. England)
Replacement of Parts :
(a) Battery: On an average batteries last for 4 years after installation.

(b) Pads: Replace on the two year expiration date.

4. Story: "It was a heart attack" – the importance of awareness

October 17, 2011 - I was talking to my friend in Australia who told me about one of his co-worker’s mother passed away from a heart attack. Even though she was 82 years old, still losing a family member is never easy. I decide to write about this story is because his co-worker’s mother made a visit to the hospital for discomfort of indigestion. The whole family had no idea that she was suffering from a heart-attack. As soon as she arrived to the hospital, she was admitted to receive proper treatment for her heart condition. Everything seemed to be under control. Then the next day, she suddenly passed away. According to the doctor, she had multiple attacks within 5 minutes overnight while they were trying to put in a catheter and passed away by the next morning. Needless to say, the family was in shock. From an indigestion?!

I never knew or heard that symptoms of heart attacks differ from men to women until I start working for APHN. Doctors know, CVD or Heart related organizations know, and yet, still every time I have a chance to talk to someone, they are merely surprised of the different symptoms between men and women related to CVD. Words need to get out, awareness has to be raised.

With the UN High-Level Meeting being held in September, this is the time for “CHANGE” and “CHANCE” to get the Head of States (Government and Country-level) involved with prevention against NCD. Within APHN, we have members like Australia and New Zealand that the government is heavily involved and advocating for tobacco control and yet on the other hand, regrettably we have very active members but their governments that has very little knowledge or interest on FCTC or just simply are not willing to change. I hope that with the APHN Host Training Program and WHF/APHN/GSP Singapore Workshop will provide effective tools & information, as well as inspiration to all of our APHN members.

5. From the APHN Secretariat

Announcement 1: Call for APHN Visit Training Program (pdf)

The Asia Pacific Heart Network calls for expression of interests from member Heart Foundations. This Host Training Program will be providing orientation, education, tools and etc., by host Heart Foundations (Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore).
We believe, as a Heart Network, this is one of the advantages that make it possible to provide such opportunity for our members to learn from other members

For details…

Following suggestions were made at our last APHN AGM in Kuala Lumpur.
Terms for the travel costs, living expenses and insurance to be met by the visitor's Heart Foundation. It was also suggested that Host Foundations may be able to assist, if possible, with some costs (e. g. providing billeting or assistance with accommodation). Host Heart Foundations are Australia, New Zealand and Singapore and will arrange a program for the visitor Heart Foundation for a suggested period of one week on an annual basis.

If you are interested in this program, please contact the APHN Secretariat (secretariat@aphn.info) first, with providing which host heart foundation you would like to receive this educational program and we will put you in touch with the representative of the requested Heart Foundation. In order to encourage other members to take advantage of the learning experiences, we hope to follow up with a report on this program.

Announcement 2: "Tobacco & Heart Health:Taking Action" Joint Workshop in Singapore (click here to learn more)

The World Heart Federation, the Asia-Pacific Heart Network and the Global Smokefree Partnership will co-host the workshop “Tobacco and Heart Health: Taking Action” in Singapore on March 19, 2012 (Immediately before the 15th World Conference on Tobacco or Health, also to be held in Singapore from March 20-24).

This workshop offers opportunities for key staff in heart foundations and cardiac societies to build alliances (internally, nationally and regionally) as well as develop basic tobacco control priorities. With experienced facilitators, representatives will participate in group discussions and have the opportunity to hear first hand accounts of successful advocacy activities.

Don’t miss this great opportunity!

For further information or enquiries, please contact the APHN Secretariat at secretariat@aphn.info

Announcement 3: APHN calls for APHN Members Report on Tobacco and Challenges

In the next edition, we would like to learn what is going on within your respective countries on FCTC implementation plan and challenges you face. It is important that we understand and learn the issues & obstacles that our members face in the Asia Pacific Region. APHN Secretariat calls for reports on tobacco issues, challenges, and experiences. The purpose of calling reports is to share information among the members and learn and develope effective tools for our "mission." The website is still in the midst of developing however we hope that our members will utilize this website to the fullest extent as a platform for information not just on tobacco but also in CVD prevention. This information will also be reported to the committee of the Singapore workshop. APHN asks for your input and would like to see how we can help as a network. Please send in your report to secretariat@aphn.info

6. Upcoming International Meetings & Congresses (Nov 2011 - Mar 2012)

2011

12-16 Nov: American Heart Association scientific sessions: International congress on global cardiovascular prevention and health promotion track; Contact: sessions@heart.org; Orlando, FL, US
13-15 Nov: 2011 Global Health Conference in Montreal; Montreal, Canada
27-30 Nov: 6th France-Reunion and South Africa meeting of cardiovascular disease; Cape Town, South Africa
13-16 Mar: Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism Spring 2012 Scientific Sessions; Contact: scientificconferences@heart.org; San Diego, California, US
20 Mar: WHF– APHN – GSP Joint Workshop “Tobacco and Heart Health: Taking Action”; Contact: megan.geremenko@heartfoundation.org.au or secretariat@aphn.info; Singapore
21-24 Mar: World conference on tobacco or health; Singapore
26 Mar-1 Apr: World Salt Awareness Week 2012; Global
18-22 Apr: 2012 World Congress of Cardiology; Contact: congress@worldheart.org; Dubai, United Arab Emirates
18-20 Apr: Geneva Health Forum; Geneva, Switzerland
21-22 Apr: Global Health and Innovation Conference; Contact: rturkel@uniteforsight.org; New Haven, Connecticut, US
23-27 Apr: World Congress on Public Health; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
27-30 Apr: Congress of the World Public Health Nutrition Association; Rio de Janeiro
27-30 Apr: World Nutrition Rio2012; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
31 Apr: World No Tobacco Day; Global

7. News around the ASIA - PACIFIC REGION

Framework Convention Alliance: Update News on Tobacco Control
ProCor: (1) China, India, Japan, US: Prehypertension and risk of stroke
(2) Minimal physical activity is better than no physical activity