Team up for healthy hearts

2 October 2007 in Brussels marked the inaugural meeting of the Members of European Parliament (MEP) Heart Group. The meeting is particularly timely as we have seen significant developments to address CVD in Europe during the last year. These include: the launch of the European Heart Health Charter with the official support of the European Commission and the

WHO European region in June;the European Parliament's adoption by an overwhelming majority (607-2) of a Resolution on "action to tackle cardiovascular disease" in July; and the publication of the new European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice, in September.

To promote measures that will help reduce the burden of CVD in Europe, the European Heart Network (EHN) has supported the creation of the MEP Heart Group in close collaboration with Co-Chairs Dr. Georgs Andrejevs MEP and Dr. Adamos Adamou MEP.

The meeting in Brussels brought together national heart foundations - among those the Hungarian National Heart Foundation - that are committed to working with European politicians and officials to address cardiovascular disease across the continent. "The first six months of 2007 have displayed an extraordinary unity among EU and national

stakeholders as well as NGOs and health professionals to strengthen efforts to tackle the number one killer in the EU and, it is hoped,will set a precedent for years to come" remarked Susanne Logstrup, Director of the European Heart Network. The Heart Group is intended to provide MEPs with an interest in cardiovascular health an opportunity to generate dialogue, outreach and activities at EU and Member State level. The objective of the Group is to promote measures that will help reduce the burden of CVD in the European Union and raise awareness of the disease amongst target audiences through a series of dedicated activities. Hungarian MEPs have already joined the Heart Group, while others expressed their interest.

"Nothing less but a strong coordinated push for information, education - including of health professionals - policies and structures will help preventing unnecessary deaths and suffering from heart disease and stroke. We need to shed more light on policies needed to protect all people from heart disease and on the weak links in the chain of survival" said Mrs. Logstrup.

© MNSZA
2008-07-09 | Refreshed: 2009-11-11 12:12