The Shifa International Hospital (SIH) organised a colourful fun day with the theme of “Heart Healthy Family Day” for families, children, heart patients and senior citizens to mark the second consecutive event of its campaign to promote healthy lifestyle for keeping heart healthy in Fatima Jinnah Park, F-9.
A large number of families, youth, children of all ages and senior citizens – many of them with cardiovascular disease – participated in the lively fun day full of various exotic activities. SIH Strategic Planning Director Mahmood Mirza, Consultant Dr Shahzad Siddiqui and Director Emergency SIH Dr Abdus Salam addressed the participants while Senior Manager Media Azmatullah Quraishi moderated the event.
Dr Abdul Salam apprised the audience about cardiovascular diseases, its prevalence, symptoms and treatment option. He, however, stressed the need to adopt a healthy, simple and active lifestyle to keep heart fit and healthy for a longer period. He advised them to use simple diet, fresh vegetables, and fruits and take care of calories and cholesterol level to prevent cardiac diseases, including heart attack.
Free heart screening, blood, diabetes and cholesterol test, blood pressure, height and weight check-up and other tests that are needed to maintain heart healthy were conducted on this occasion. Free expert’s advice and diet plans were also given to the participants. On this occasion, telemedicine facility was introduced among the audience with its benefits and advantages. Many of the participants with disease symptoms were further examined by cardiac consultants at Shifa through telemedicine setup at F-9 Park and were given appropriate advice.
People took keen interest in telemedicine as it was unique cutting edge technology used for the very first time by SIH. It is pertinent to mention here that Shifa has already launched telemedicine in the region providing live checkup facilities for people in different cities. Shifa is committed to further enhancing this facility to remote areas like Sakardu.
Various exciting competitions such as jogging, brisk walk (for ladies and gents over 60 years of age), face painting and race among children of different ages were organised. Many youngsters and senior citizens enthusiastically participated in the competitions. Special gifts were given to the winners of different interesting competitions to promote healthy lifestyle to keep heart fit and healthy. Heart-shaped balloons were distributed among children as well. Colourful stalls of different awareness material also fascinated the participants.
