Cayman Heart Fund Health Screening Event promotes health and wellness in the community

On Saturday 17 July 2021, the staff and volunteers of the Cayman Heart Fund (CHF) transformed the Teacher Redley Powery Library in West Bay into a healthy heart clinic for their first Health Screening Event of 2021. Over 70 persons were checked for their risk for heart disease and other serious health complications.

The mission of the CHF is to improve the cardiovascular health for all in the Cayman Islands. We achieve this through education, training, and by providing medical equipment and services to the public. The free health screenings include family history, height, weight, waist measurement and BMI, blood pressure, and a blood test to show an individual’s sugar, cholesterol, HDL (“Good Cholesterol”), triglycerides, and glucose levels.

Persons attending the event commented on how important these free clinics are to the local population – now more than ever. Nigel and Deby Coles travelled all the way from North Side for the event. “I take a statin for high cholesterol and needed an up-to-date cholesterol test so I can get my prescription renewed,” said Nigel Coles. “My wife and I have both not worked for more than a year now and we need to be really careful with our pennies. Health is an important priority, so we are really grateful to the Cayman Heart Fund for making this available.”

“Despite the enormous advances in medical science and technology, heart and circulatory diseases remain the number one cause of death in the Cayman Islands and around the world.” Says Maureen Cubbon, CHF Vice Chairperson. “Our free health screening program provides an opportunity for people, regardless of their status or insurance coverage, to discover their risk of having heart disease or a cardiac event such as heart attack or stroke.”

“Knowing your numbers is one of the most important steps you can take to manage your cardiovascular health — even if you think you’re healthy.” said Suzy Soto, Founder and Chair Emeritus of the Cayman Heart Fund.

The CHF is enormously grateful to Dr Amitabha Basu, Dean of Basic Sciences, and the medical students at St Matthews Medical School as well as the wonderful doctors and nurses who volunteer their time at these events to help people understand their risk and discuss ways they can lead a healthy lifestyle. Thanks go to Dr Gabor Xantus, Dr Nyali Taylor, Dr Michelle Mon Desir, and nurses Kelly Watson and Diane Obana who worked tirelessly on the day.

Studies have shown that individuals with underlying medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease were more vulnerable to the worst outcomes of coronavirus pandemic. Knowing your numbers and being able to talk to a clinician who can help you interpret the results is one way to protect yourself and slow the spread of the disease. Lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation, losing weight, reducing alcohol consumption, moving, or exercising more, limiting stress, visiting your doctor and following a clinician’s advice, as well as other positive lifestyle changes can help to reduce cardiac risk.

“Public libraries fulfil an important role in community access to health information” says Allison Olarou, CHF Coordinator. “As centres of community engagement and education, they are a great partner to advance public health. Ms Marcia, Librarian at West Bay Public Library, holds a free Health Symposium every year for patrons. This year she asked the CHF to speak to the community about heart health, so the next logical step was to return to carry out a free health screening. “We hope to team up with the Cayman Islands Public Library Service (CIPLS) for future events so that we can bring our free heart health screening program to every district in Grand Cayman.”

For more information on the CHF’s Health Screening Program including information about future events or if you wish to make to make a donation, please see the CHF website at: caymanheartfund.ky/knowyournumbers or contact Allison Olarou at the Cayman Heart Fund on 916 6324 or info@caymanheartfund.com.

Cayman Heart Fund is a non-profit organization incorporated under the Companies Law (2007 Revision) in 2007, with Registration License # 220594. Our aim is to alert, reduce and help prevent Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) – Cayman’s #1 cause of death in the Cayman Islands.

If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me at: (345) 916-6324 or please email: info@caymanheartfund.com