Under the auspices of Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, the High Institute of Public Health organized a celebration of World Heart Day under the slogan “Don’t Miss a Beat”, in cooperation with the Alexandria Health Directorate. The event was attended by Dr. Heba El-Qadi, Dean of the Institute, Dr. Zeinab Shatta, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development, Dr. Fahmy Charles, Head of the Occupational Health and Industrial Medicine Department, and Dr. Hanan Anwar, Deputy Director of Health, along with faculty members and health leaders.

In her speech, Dr. Heba El-Qadi explained that the world celebrates World Heart Day every year on September 29. The occasion was launched by the World Heart Federation in cooperation with the World Health Organization to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death worldwide. She noted that the event included free screening and early-detection services for citizens and staff at the institute, as part of the presidential public health initiatives “100 Million Health,” in collaboration with the Health Directorate. Screenings covered chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disorders, as well as early-detection programs for cancers such as lung, colon, bladder, and uterine cancers, in addition to initiatives supporting women’s health. A special awareness video was also launched on heart disease prevention, emphasizing the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle and avoiding risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity, while promoting a healthy diet, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and awareness of the dangers of high blood pressure and cholesterol.

For her part, Dr. Zeinab Shatta stressed that this year’s theme, “Don’t Miss a Beat”, symbolizes that the heart is not merely a vital organ but a source of life and vitality. Preserving it is a shared responsibility of both the individual and society. She added that, on the sidelines of the celebration, the institute organized a comprehensive medical convoy in front of its premises in Al-Hadra Al-Bahriya, as part of the presidential initiative “100 Days of Health,” where a group of specialized doctors provided free medical checkups and laboratory tests to a large number of local residents.

Dr. Fahmy Charles also delivered an awareness lecture, highlighting the latest World Health Organization reports which indicate that cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death globally. He emphasized that prevention is possible through committing to positive healthy habits and avoiding harmful practices that endanger heart health.

Dr. Hanan Anwar confirmed that the Alexandria Health Directorate was keen to support the event by deploying medical teams from various specialties to provide healthcare services to citizens, raise awareness of the dangers of heart disease and prevention methods, and encourage people to undergo regular checkups and adopt healthy lifestyles.

The day’s events concluded by reaffirming the pioneering role of the High Institute of Public Health in supporting awareness and early-detection initiatives, and in advancing Alexandria University’s mission of protecting human health and improving the quality of life for the Alexandrian community.