In honour of World Heart Day, the South African Heart Association has launched the Check My Beat campaign to raise awareness about heart health and the importance of regular health screenings.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa reports that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) claim more lives than TB, HIV, and malaria combined, with 215 daily deaths from heart diseases or strokes.
It is explained that the campaign is centred on South African taxi drivers, who are known to be particularly susceptible to CVDs due to their long sitting hours and unhealthy lifestyles.
Last week, heart health screenings took place amongst taxi drivers in Johannesburg, where 160 drivers were screened; this included blood pressure, glucose level, and cholesterol checks, as well as questionnaires on eating habits and exercise routines.
The campaign underscores the importance of adopting healthy habits, which can lead to a longer, stronger, and more fulfilling life, especially for drivers, who are cited as the backbone of society.
Speaking about the campaign, Dr David of SA Heart Association says: “World Heart Day is a reminder that our heart is the engine of our existence, and by nurturing it with healthy habits, we fuel a longer, stronger, and more fulfilling life.
“We are working together to ensure taxi drivers, vendors, and passengers — the lifeblood of our city — receive the care and attention they deserve.
“Like a taxi covering many miles, our bodies need care and investment in good practices to keep our hearts healthy,’’ he said.
This campaign is supported by key partners Anglo American, Jozi My Jozi, Cipla, Wits University, Betway Cares, Nahana Foundation, World Heart Federation, and Brandmed’s Syntro-P app.
Jozi My Jozi, a Johannesburg-based movement, acknowledges taxi drivers as the city’s vital force and has partnered with Check My Beat to demonstrate their dedication to its vitality.
It is also revealed that students from the Wits University School of Therapeutic Sciences also played a key role in the screenings, combining traditional screening methods with this powerful technology to ensure that each driver received a comprehensive assessment of their heart health.
Advanced AI technology was used to create personalised heart health music tracks, which can be listened to and voted on at checkmybeatsa.com
The Star
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za