Brief introduction
The Lithuanian Heart Association (LHA) is a voluntary and independent non-governmental organisation uniting medical professionals and patients interested in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. LHA was established in 1994 by initiative of two well-known professors in cardiology – prof. Aleksandras Laucevicius and prof. Rimgaudas Nemickas. LHA has been taking care of heart patients and medical professionals for over 25 years.
LHA primarily engages in informing the public on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and by emphasising crucial risk factors and role of healthy living. Additionally, LHA searches for the governmental support to improve cardiovascular disease prevention measures in Lithuania, provides patient’ and medical professional’ support. The LHA relies largely on donations from individuals and industry, mainly looking for funding on specific projects.
Currently, activities of LHA are implemented in Lithuania’s five biggest regions: Vilnius, Kaunas, Panevežys, Šiauliai and Klaipėda. The Department of Patients with Cardiovascular Disease was established in 2010 at the Lithuanian Heart Association and organises mutual-support clubs for patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
Aim
LHA aim is to reduce mortality from cardiovascular diseases in Lithuania.
Highlights in 2018
In 2018, the LHA continued its successful campaigns: ‘World Heart Day’, ‘Go Red for Women’, ‘Word Thrombosis Day’, and ‘I promise’ initiative. The ‘World Heart Day’ event was organised in all five biggest towns in Lithuania taking lectures on healthy lifestyle, organising different sporting activities, measuring and detecting any abnormalities in body mass index, blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood sugar. ‘World Heart Day’ is a big and well-known event in Lithuania, attracting huge attention of public and media. The ‘Go Red for Women’ campaign is aiming to improve women’s knowledge on cardiovascular diseases so that they can take action and live longer, healthier lives. The campaign includes active media communication, a charity dinner with celebrities, medical professionals and politicians, educational lectures for public. The ‘World Thrombosis Day’ aimed to raise public awareness on the importance of diagnosing atrial fibrillation in order to prevent thromboembolic complications such as stroke. The campaign “I promise’ was aimed to increase awareness of unhealthy life style habits by introducing small personal changes for longer and healthies living.
Additionally, LHA supported educational activities for medical professionals by organising different local conferences, providing grants for participation in international congresses.
For more information about the Lithuanian Heart Association, please visit: www.heart.lt/ or https://www.facebook.com/heart.lt/.