Better Hearts-Better Ulaanbaatar program launches

Society
unurzul@montsame.mn
2018-03-19 14:37:55
Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/ An official launching of the program ‘Better Hearts-Better Ulaanbaatar’ was held on March 16.
During the ceremony, 25 primary health care units were presented sphygmomanometers (blood pressure monitors).

Within the program, more than 250 doctors and nurses of the primary health care units of Ulaanbaatar city were involved in the training. Moreover, a baseline survey on determining prevalence of hypertension, awareness and approach was conducted amongst Ulaanbaatar population, involving over 4600 people of 52 khoroos (the smallest administrative unit of the capital).

In addition, it plans to involve over 1000 doctors of 142 primary health care units, providing more blood pressure monitors and organizing scientific works on reducing hypertension.  

In Mongolia, strokes that associate with cardiovascular disorders and high blood pressure are leading cause of death. It is estimated four-times higher than the global average, according to the 2015-2016 assessment of UN’s specialized agency. About 30 percent of the mortality was caused by cardiovascular disease, of which the key factor is hypertension.

Ulaanbaatar city was selected one of three ‘Better Hearts Better Cities’ as cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the city. With its ‘Better Hearts Better Cities’ initiative, the Novartis Foundation is taking ambitious steps to tackle hypertension, the prime risk factor for cardiovascular disease, in low-income urban communities.

Better Hearts Better Cities partners with Onom Foundation, Ulaanbaatar City Municipal Government and Health Department, the Mongolian Chamber of Commerce and others in seeking to address determining factors such as high salt consumption and poor diet and are co-developing and implementing a first wave of interventions to improve quality and efficiency of care as well as health literacy.

M. Unurzul