WITH THE recent purchase of a building for the new home of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ), the organisation has revealed it will be opening a Cardiac Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation Programme for individuals recovering from heart failure.

HFJ Executive Director Deborah Cheng yesterday revealed that the programme will also seek to educate persons who have multiple risk factors for developing heart disease, such as obesity, diabetes, or hypertension, as a method of promoting the prevention of the disease. She was speaking during the Heroes of the Heart Breakfast meeting held at the Terra Nova hotel, New Kingston.

Prevention

According to Dr. Knox Hagley, consultant physician and chairman of HFJ, the organisation's main goal is to work towards the prevention of the disease, as it is currently the number one killer in Jamaica and the rest of the world.

At their new home, which will be located next door to their present location, the HFJ hopes to refurbish facilities for a research resource centre that will facilitate research and provide information for both students and patients alike. It will also expand its current pharmacy, which now serves a large portion of the country's population.

Mrs. Cheng highlighted the need for the further development of the facilities to meet the growing need of the country's population, as she said this is critical if the foundation is going to continue to provide effective and efficient assistance.

According to Dr. Hafeezul Mohammed, consultant cardiologist and board member of the HFJ, heart disease "is the commonest cause of death in Jamaica, and that is a major issue."