With 1.6 million births annually, it may be inferred from the aforementioned figures that 16000 of those babies had cardiac disease.
Dr. Omagino claims that the problems are not inherited but rather result from a lifestyle that includes eating a lot of meals heavy in carbohydrates, which the body needs but then converts to fats, which causes heart disease. It clogs the vessels, making even easy tasks difficult for the person.
He claimed that an immediate and early diagnosis is necessary for intervention in this case. He was speaking to the judiciary team during the health camp at Soroti court.
Little children under the age of five will die from heart disease if treatment is not received. If we don’t act quickly, half of them would need surgery.
According to Dr. Omagino, a heart operation is a costly procedure that costs about $10,000 or 40 million Ugandan shillings.
According to Dr. Omagino, the adult situation is concerning because one in four adults, whether they live in a town or a village, has heart disease. This is accelerated by obesity and hypertension.
In order to tackle this issue, the Ugandan government has implemented various steps, including requiring all employment locations to have two days of physical activity per week and holding national exercise days twice a year, with June 16th being the first.
According to him, the local government would soon stop granting licences to any school that does not have a designated physical education area.
In an effort to reduce non-communicable diseases, the Ministry of Health said last month that the National Physical Activity Guidelines would be released shortly. The recommendations, according to Dr. Gerald Mutungi, Assistant Commissioner of the Non-Communicable Diseases Department, were created with the help of the WHO and will offer general direction to the public, private sector organisations, and government.
According to him, the standards will specify what kinds of physical activities are appropriate for what age group and how much physical exercise is necessary. Mutungi continued, saying that varied age groups and person types require varying amounts of physical activity.
“Those guidelines will provide all those details and help the public choose which physical activities to engage in. They will also let people know that engaging in physical activity doesn’t require going to the gym,” Dr. Mutungi continued.
Given the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Margaret Muhanga, the State Minister for Primary Health Care, underlined the importance of routine medical examinations for Ugandans. The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week, or do at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both.
Kickboxer and physical education instructor Golola Moses said he launched a campaign to inform people about the value of engaging in physical activity.
According to Dr. Omagino, positions for cardiologists have now been established by the government in the reorganised health system. We have selected physicians pursuing fellowships in the management of cardiac disease from each location. This will contribute in addressing the situation,” he remarked.
Nonetheless, he linked the rise in heart disease to changes in lifestyle, population growth, and raising awareness of the locations of diagnoses made at various facilities.