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ACC.20/WCC Virtual: WHF President Prof Karen Sliwa Opening Remarks

30 Mar 2020

Dear friends,

Thank you for contributing to the most important discussion about heart health in the world.

As we get ready to delve into a new form of our joint Congress, I would like to pay a special tribute to those who are in the front lines of what is an unprecedented struggle with a rapidly spreading virus. I refer to all my colleagues who treat patients infected with COVID-19 and those who are fighting its expansion. Now we are all needed by the whole world and all eyes are on us, and I am grateful for everyone’s dedication and professionalism. Our thoughts go out to those who have lost their loved ones to the new coronavirus and to those colleagues, who lost their lives to save others.

As the world is in full speed fighting the global pandemic, our co-hosts the American College of Cardiology and the World Heart Federation rushed to issue clinical bulletins outlining the cardiac implications of the new virus. We, at the WHF, the global organization of the cardiovascular community, are committed to sharing the latest evidence and providing advice on the type of measures necessary to save and protect lives with a specific focus on low-income regions.

Let me present to you briefly who we are, what we do, and tell you about my research and clinical focus in Africa and why we shouldn’t stop pushing for change.

 

Watch the full speech below:

For more information about ACC.20 / WCC, click here.