AS part of this year’s World Heart Day celebration, The Heart Foundation of Jamaica on Thursday illuminated the Redemption Song statue, located at Emancipation Park in Kingston.

This symbolic uplighting is in partnership with the World Heart Federation (WHF). Through this campaign, the World Heart Federation unites people from all countries and backgrounds in the fight against cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and inspires and drives international action to encourage heart-healthy living across the world.

World Heart Day is celebrated on September 29, observing the theme: ‘Use ❤️ for Every ‘

World Heart Day is the world’s largest platform to raise awareness for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). It is an opportunity to inform everyone, everywhere, that heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading causes of death, and to highlight the actions that individuals can take to prevent and control CVD. This increasingly powerful global campaign sees individuals, families, communities and organisations around the world taking part in activities to take charge of their heart health and that of others.

According to the WHF, CVD is a class of diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels (veins and arteries). It can be caused by a combination of socio-economic, behavioural, and environmental risk factors, including high blood pressure, unhealthy diet, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, tobacco use, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol, and stress. The aim is to drive action in educating people that by controlling the risk factors mentioned, at least 80 per cent of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke can be avoided.

Other landmarks and statues that have been lit by WHF member nations include the Eiffel Tower (Paris, France), The Eye (London, England), Niagara Falls (Canada), and the Sydney Opera House (Sydney, Australia), to name a few.