Heart diseases on the rise
MUSCAT — The Oman Heart Association (OHA), in association with the Ministry of Health and other health institutes, announced that they will be hosting the four-day 9th Gulf Heart Association (GHA) Conference from tomorrow at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel. This was announced at a press conference at OHA’S premises yesterday.
This will be the second time that this important conference, which brings together local, regional and international experts in the field of cardiology (heart disorders), is to be held in the Sultanate — the first one having been held here in 2004.
Dr Kadhim bin Jaffer Sulaiman, senior consultant cardiologist, Royal Hospital and vice-president of OHA, and Dr Said bin Mohammed al Hinai, senior consultant cardiologist, Diwan of the Royal Court, briefed the press about the upcoming conference and its significance.
The main aim of the conference is to bring together experts from the Arabian Gulf region and worldwide to present latest research, know-how and new developments in the field of cardiology, as well as to denote the risk factors related to this.
Over 900 participants are expected to attend the conference including cardiologists and other physicians, nurses, students and other health professionals, which besides those from Oman and other GCC countries include those from Belgium, Canada, France, India, Malaysia, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, the UK and the US.
Over the last four decades, the prevalence of heart and related disease has been on the rise in Oman and although lower than that in Western countries, it is a cause of concern. The main culprit is modern, sedentary lifestyle and over consumption of unhealthy foods.