Akumaa Mama Zimbi and Dr. Joyce Aryeh have been named ambassadors for 2013 edition of the World Heart Day (WHD) in Ghana.

The two celebrated figures were chosen by the Ghana Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

This year’s World Heart Day will be celebrated on September 28 at the Efua Satherland Children’s Park in Accra with a walk and free heart screening.

The theme for this year is, “Walking On The Road To A Healthy Heart” with a focus on women and children.

Each year, over 17million people die worldwide out of heart-related issues. And one out of every three women who die, die out of heart-related diseases.

In fact, every minute, a woman dies out of heart-related disease in the world, and in Ghana, it is the highest cause of death in women and children.

At a press launch of the World Heart Day at the British Council, Prof. Frimpong Boateng and Dr. Siribour, the past and present directors of the Ghana Cardiothoracic Centre in Ghana respectively, commended Mama Zimbi in her effort towards development of women in Ghana.

The two ambassadors are to work closely with all the heart-related institutions to raise awareness about such diseases in Ghana till September next year.

According to Mama Zimbi, if heart-related diseases would be minimized and stopped completely, women would have to play a greater role.

She added, “We all need to eat well, exercise regularly, rest adequately and go for regular checkups at the hospital to reduce the chances of getting hearts-related diseases.”