Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
SHOPPERS at Bahrain City Centre took part in a global awareness campaign for the prevention of heart diseases amongst women, as part of an initiative called Go Red for Women.
Taking place at the Central Galleria within the mall on Thursday and Friday, more than 500 complimentary heart health check-ups for women were conducted by medical professionals from King Hamad University Hospital.
Blood pressure, blood group, random blood sugar, cholesterol and Body Mass Index tests were performed onsite, in addition to a quick health tips service provided at the stand.
Go Red for Women, founded by the American Heart Association in 2004, is supported annually by more than 30 countries worldwide. With the tagline: ‘This is not a red dress, it is a red alert,’ the campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of prevention, diagnosis and control of cardiovascular disease in women.
Shopper Laila Arolkar, 36, from Hoora, said: “I think this is an excellent campaign, creating awareness about heart and health issues and offering all these tests under one roof. I believe prevention is always better than a cure.”
Cardiovascular diseases – heart disease and stroke - account for 32 per cent of all deaths in Bahrain, making it the number one cause of death in the country, according to the World Health Organisation.
It is also known to be the biggest killer of women globally, killing more than all cancers, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria combined.
Smoking is also a concern in the country and many studies detail the evidence that it is a major cause of coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attacks.
“It was an excellent opportunity for the mall to educate and empower women to take charge of their heart health. The initiative aligned with our commitment to the local community as a socially-responsible organisation,” said Duaij Khalifa Al Rumaihi, senior mall manager, Bahrain City Centre.
‘Go Red for Women’ also rolled out across Majid Al Futtaim Properties’ malls in the region, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Oman.
