The Children’s National Health System and the Uganda Heart Institute established a country-wide clinical and research infrastructure, focused on screening, prevention and care, to support a vastly underserved population with – or at risk of developing – rheumatic heart disease (RHD). In support of this initiative, Philips Foundation donated Philips Lumify mobile ultrasound devices, strengthening a program to screen more than 35,000 children for RHD in Gulu, Uganda. Funding provided by the Foundation also made it possible to perform screening operations and follow up with children suffering from RHD. While preventable, RHD continues to cause significant levels of morbidity and mortality in children and young adults living in countries with fragile health systems.
Many children and young adults today live on high-fat, sugary diets and spend too many hours sitting every day. Such behaviors can lead to obesity, a higher risk of developing heart disease and diabetes, and other chronic conditions that can often be prevented by living a healthy and active life. Philips Foundation supports GORILLA Germany, Austria and Switzerland to help educate younger generations about the benefits of living a healthier life, encouraging them to get active and take responsibility for their own health. With its interactive and informative online presence, engaging healthy living workshops, Swiss school program and event series – the GORILLA Event Container – GORILLA inspires more than 244,000 people each year to rethink their everyday lives.
The Philips Foundation supports the Dutch Heart Foundation’s goal to make the Netherlands a ‘six-minute cardiac arrest’ zone by helping to expand the network of community first responders and AEDs across the entire country. When someone goes into cardiac arrest, the sooner they receive help the greater their chance of survival. The Dutch Heart Foundation estimates that 2,500 lives could be saved each year once the six-minute zone is in place. In 2016 and 2017, the Dutch Heart Foundation held multiple, large-scale events to promote CPR and the use of AEDs, resulting in 4000 new volunteers registering as first responders.