By Marlan Padayachee
The Heart and Stroke Foundation came to town this week to celebrate its 42nd anniversary as one of the country’s leading non-profit organisations focused on promoting healthy lifestyles and life-changing behavioural patterns.
It was homecoming for the foundation’s chief executive officer, Professor Pamela Naidoo, after 20 years at the head office in Cape Town.
The event in partnership with the Durban Institute of Technology (DUT) coincided with World Heart Day on 27 September and was themed “The Legacy Campaign: Commemorating 42 Years of Protecting Heart and Brain Health”.
The conference took place at the Coastlands Hotel in Musgrave Road, Durban, on Tuesday.
Speeches and practical sessions brought together many partners that have thrown their weight and brands behind the foundation.
Professor Pillay paid tribute to corporate companies and sponsors, stating the foundation did not receive ‘a single cent’ from government but that the NPO works closely with the Department of Health.
Among the partners and sponsors, Dr Abie Khan of the Willowton Group said the fast moving consumer goods company was started 52 years by DH Moosa and his brothers in Pietermartizburg.
The company is one of many other brands that carry the foundation’s red heart mark on its cooking oil and margarine brands having earned a diamond status since it’s long association with the foundation.
“The Willowton Group is committed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and manufacturing products that are heart and stroke save.”
Foundation board member Professor Gugu Mchunu of the DUT spoke glowingly about the foundation’s outreach work and the promotions of themed world days across SA.
Wandile Ngubane of Joekels Tea Packers – one of the largest producers of SA’s indigenous rooibos tea commended the value of the endorsement of the heart mark and logo that even guided his own grandparents to avoid heart and stroke conditions.
A host of other academic and healthcare experts made presentations, and guests were monitored for health risk and assessed.
