As the World Heart Day holds today, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) have stressed the need to strengthen cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) management in primary healthcare institutions with a view to reducing the high death rate.

According to the global agency, 17.9 million people die of the ailments yearly, representing 31per cent of the world’s total mortalities.

NHF President, Mallam Ismaila Shuaibu, said the foundation is requesting individuals, communities and governments to “use the heart to make better choices for society’s loved ones and ourselves and to take action to reduce the risk of heart diseases, including the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.”