General Press Release Launch of First Mended Hearts Support Group in KZN

General Press Release
Launch of First Mended Hearts Support Group in KZN

A Mended Hearts Support Group – the first of its kind in KZN - is to be launched at Life Entabeni Hospital to coincide with Valentine’s Day and the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s `Dress Red Day’ and ‘I Love This’ Campaign*.

The support group will take place in the hospital’s conference room on Monday, February 14 from 14h30 to 16h00 and the subject will be `cardiovascular disease’ presented by Dr Cassim Hansa, a cardiologist from Life Entabeni Hospital. Everyone with an interest in cardiac well-being is invited to attend.

The Mended Hearts Support Group was established by the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSFSA) in 2006 with the goal to provide a meeting place for people, and their family members or friends, who have experienced a cardiovascular event.

Mended Hearts aims to give educational support and advice to survivors, in an effort to prevent a second event from occurring. The HSFSA, in collaboration with Life Healthcare in KZN, will assist members through the recovery process by inviting speakers, ranging from cardiologists, occupational therapists, neurologists and dieticians, to present on relevant health topics such as stroke prevention and recovery; managing high blood pressure and cholesterol; Learning CPR and how to handle medical emergencies; stress management; living with diabetes; shopping and cooking the heart healthy way.

Hundreds of people in the Cape Town area have already benefited from this support group, and plans are in progress to increase the Mended Hearts footprint in KwaZulu-Natal and nationally in order to assist more individuals. The HSFSA aims to create awareness of cardiovascular disease and make it known to the public that cardiovascular disease is a lifestyle disease which can affect people of all ages and backgrounds.

The support group is free of charge and if you would like to book a seat or obtain more information, please contact Dana Govender from the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Durban on (031) 261 9055.

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Issued by: Leanne Nyiri, Regional Marketing Manager: Life Healthcare KZN Region
Tel: (031) 313 7902 or email: leanne.nyiri@lifehealthcare.co.za

*The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA’s `I Love This’ 2011 campaign is the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa’s (HSFSA) annual national fundraising and awareness campaign running throughout the month of March. The HSFSA is dependent on businesses and the public for funding to enable the Foundation’s vital work in saving lives, supporting those affected by heart disease and stroke (South Africa’s second biggest killers after HIV / AIDS) and help create a healthy future for everyone. This Valentine’s Day do something different by purchasing an “I love this” sticker for R5.00 (from all Life Healthcare Hospitals in KZN). The stickers are available from Clicks from 1-31 March. Stick it on that which you love! By doing this you are showing all of South Africa what you value and protect in the same way that you value and protect your heart.