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Africa

Africa is home to more than 1 billion people and is a major contributor to the global burden of cardiovascular disease.

In 2019, more than 1 million deaths were attributable to CVD in sub-Saharan Africa, which constituted 5.4% of all global CVD-related deaths and 13% of all deaths in Africa.

CVD is the second leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa

1M+

More than 1 million people die every year from CVD in Africa

High blood pressure is responsible for more than half of all CVD deaths in Africa

Living with CVD in Africa

Reforming rural healthcare: hypertension in Kenya

The beat of change: rheumatic heart disease in Mozambique

Colours to Save Hearts

RHD is the most commonly acquired heart disease in people under 25

Colours to Save Hearts is an initiative aimed at raising awareness of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) among children, teachers and parents, and educate them about the link between sore throat and rheumatic heart disease, how to recognise symptoms and what to do when they first appear.

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Our Members

WHF African Summit on Best Practices and Access to Care

The World Heart Federation African Summit on Best Practices and Access to Care was held in Khartoum, Sudan on 10 and 11 October 2017 in collaboration with the Pan African Society of Cardiology, African Heart Network and Sudan Heart Society.

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Latest News

From the WHO African Region to the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs: WHF’s Key Priorities for Cardiovascular Health

This statement was delivered by Dr. Lilian Mbau, our Advocacy Committee member for AFRO, at the Seventy-Fifth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, under agenda item 16.9 – Progress Report on the Regional Framework for Integrating Essential Noncommunicable Disease Services in Primary Health Care   Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates,   The World Heart […]

Building Health Security in Africa: Equity, Resilience, and Continuity of Cardiovascular Care

This statement was delivered by Dr. Lilian Mbau, our Advocacy Committee member for AFRO, at the Seventy-Fifth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, under agenda item 13 – Strengthening Africa’s Health Security: Enhancing Event Detection, Building Resilient Systems, and Fostering Strategic Partnerships   Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates,   People Living with Noncommunicable Diseases, […]

Strengthening Rehabilitation as a Cornerstone of Cardiovascular Care in the African Region

This statement was delivered by Dr. Lilian Mbau, our Advocacy Committee member for AFRO, at the Seventy-Fifth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, under agenda item 9 – Regional Strategy to Strengthen Rehabilitation in Health Systems 2025-2035.   Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates, The World Heart Federation welcomes the regional strategy and its proposed […]

Accelerating Progress for Women’s and Children’s Heart Health in the African Region

This statement was delivered by Dr. Lilian Mbau, our Advocacy Committee member for AFRO, at the Seventy-Fifth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, under agenda item 8 – Accelerating Progress in the Health and Well-Being of Women, Children, and Adolescents by Transforming Health Systems in the African Region.   Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates, […]

All Topics

Air Pollution

Air Pollution

Chagas Disease

Chagas Disease

Cholesterol

Cholesterol

COVID-19

COVID-19

Diabetes

Diabetes

Healthy Diet

Healthy Diet

Heart Failure

Heart Failure

Hypertension

Hypertension

Obesity

Obesity

Prevention

Prevention

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Tobacco

Tobacco

Women & CVD

Women & CVD

The most common heart attack symptom, in both men and women, is some type of chest pain, pressure or discomfort. But chest pain is not always the most noticeable symptom, especially in women, who are more likely to experience it as pressure or tightness in the chest. They may even have no chest pain at […]

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