safety steps

𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧𝗦𝗔𝗣𝗣 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟! 𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗞: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaN7nmQGOj9na4QhBa12

St. John’s, Antigua. Friday, January 30, 2026: February is officially Heart Month, and the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Antigua and Barbuda is calling on the nation to place heart health at the forefront under the theme “Optimizing Heart & Brain Health – Everyday Choices, Lifelong Impact,” through a robust calendar of public education, advocacy, and community engagement activities throughout the month.

Heart disease and stroke remain leading causes of illness and death in Antigua and Barbuda. Heart Month 2026 is designed to raise awareness, promote prevention, and strengthen partnerships that improve cardiovascular outcomes across the population.

President of the Foundation and Consultant Cardiologist, Dr. Georgette Meade, emphasized the importance of the month’s focus, “Heart Month is an opportunity to move beyond awareness to action.

Although cardiovascular disease is largely preventable, its impact continues to grow. This month brings science, policy, and community action together to empower individuals to make healthier choices while strengthening the systems that support heart and brain health.”

A key highlight of Heart Month is the Foundation’s collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) through the HEARTS in the Americas initiative.

HEARTS is a country-led programme, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health, Wellness, the Environment & Civil Affairs with technical cooperation from PAHO, designed to integrate global best practices into existing health delivery services.

The Foundation has been invited to participate as a partner in the national launch and ongoing implementation meetings, with Dr. Tadia Smith serving as the Foundation’s representative.

Heart Month activities are supported by key partners, including the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC), Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS), Antigua and Barbuda Diabetes Association (ABDA), the Ministry of Health, Wellness, the Environment & Civil Affairs, the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC), and the Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, reflecting a unified, multi-sector approach to improving cardiovascular health outcomes in Antigua and Barbuda.

For further information, please contact Ms. Valerie Gonsalves-Barreiro via telephone at 1-268-729-8399 or email at info@heartandstrokeag.org