Director of the National Cardiothoracic Centre Dr. Lawrence Agyemang Sereboe has appealed to government for an expansion of the facility to hold staff and patients.

Speaking exclusively to TV3 at the 2016 launch of the World Heart Day, Dr Sereboe stressed that staff and patients alike have currently outgrown the center space and hence the need for a relief from government.

According to the World Health Organisation, Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of mortality globally.

Annually, it is responsible for 17.5 million premature deaths and, by the 2030, the figure is expected to rise to 23 million.

CVDs are also the cause of 60 per cent of all deaths in people with diabetes whilst cholesterol is responsible for about 4 million deaths annually.

Against this backdrop, the World Heart Foundation is aiming at reducing the figures by 50 per cent through the World Heart Day initiative, which seeks to create awareness on healthy lifestyle.

Dr. Sereboe stressed a healthy living is a crucial step to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, mentioning funding as a challenge to many patients.

He added that Ghanaians must begin to incorporate healthy lifestyles that include healthy eating, exercising of the body and consistent medical checkups.

He pleaded with government to give the Cardiovascular Unit at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital a relief in the area of infrastructure.

He stated emphatically that the medical staff at the unit and patients have outgrown the capacity of the building and government must provide an all-inclusive operational facility since the country has the most effective team in the sub-region.

This year, the National Cardiovascular Centre has themed the awareness creation exercise ‘Power Your Life’ and Comedian DKB was announced as the ambassador for this year’s edition.

The World Heart Day is slated for September 29, this year and October 1, 2016 is scheduled for the celebration.