The Malta Medical Students’ Association (MMSA) celebrated World Heart Day today in an event held in Malta.

World Heart Day is an annual global event, commemorated on its official date of the 29th of September around the world and is taken as an opportunity to increase awareness about healthy living.

This morning, in Bisazza Street, MMSA medical students offered the general public free blood pressure monitoring, blood glucose testing and BMI measuring. There was a children’s section to encourage healthy eating and exercise within the younger generation. The students encouraged smokers to exchange a cigarette for a fruit from one of the exhibited stands. A nutritionist was also present and gave useful tips on how people can change their lifestyle and eating habits.

Joe Cassar, the Minister for Health, Elderly and Community Care, attended the event and said that in 2008, the total number of people whose death was attributed to a heart condition was 678, which amounted to 21% of the deaths that year.

Dr Charmaine Gauci, Director of the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate, also present at the event, said that local statistics showed a slight decrease in the number of smokers, with the risk of a heart attack decreasing immediately once smoking has stopped.

The Malta Medical Students Association thanked all those who gave their help to hold the activity

Permalink: MMSA World Heart Day activities a resounding success