The World Heart Federation has elected Dr Srinath Reddy as its President. WHF is global NGO and only institution dedicated to the global prevention of heart disease stroke, with a focus on low and middle income countries, according to a Hindu report.
What is more, Reddy is also the first Indian ever to be elected to this high office. According to the report, the election was held on last Friday at the World Congress of Cardiology, organised in Dubai. Dr Sydney Smith of the US was Reddy's predecessor. Starting from January 2013, Reddy will serve this prestigious organisation for a two year term.
Image courtesy: The Hindu.
Reddy is serving as the President of the Public Health Foundation of India. He has also served as the head of Cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Reddy is also serving as the first Bernard Lown Visiting Professor of Cardiovascular Health at the Harvard School of Public Health and Honorary Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney, the report pointed out.
Accepting this honorary position as head of the world body, Dr Reddy is quoted as saying by the report: “Cardiovascular diseases are collectively the leading cause of death across the world and are increasing at an alarming rate in low and middle income countries. Moreover, global threat requires a global thrust to counter and contain it. Efforts are needed to protect populations from acquiring heart disease and to provide timely, effective and affordable care to individuals who have developed disease. Health services should enable risk reduction and cost-effective management of disease at all levels of health care. WHF will catalyse these policies at the global level and assist national efforts through capacity building and collaborative research".
