He identified unhealthy diets, excessive alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and delayed medical attention as some of the leading drivers of cardiovascular disease in the region.
Uganda’s cardiovascular disease burden is steadily worsening, with health experts warning that the growing crisis is affecting both adults and children. An estimated one in four Ugandan adults is living with hypertension, while heart disease now accounts for more than 10 percent of all deaths nationwide.
Health statistics show that more than 27,000 people died from cardiovascular diseases in Uganda in 2021, with premature deaths among adults aged 30 to 70 remaining a major public health concern.
The impact is also being felt among children. About 16,000 babies are born with congenital heart defects every year, and nearly half require urgent surgical intervention. The country is also home to an estimated 300,000 school-aged children living with rheumatic heart disease, a preventable condition caused by untreated sore throats.
Against this backdrop, the Director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Dr. Andrew Odur, has warned that the Lango sub-region is experiencing a worrying increase in heart disease cases, which he attributes to unhealthy lifestyles and poor health-seeking behaviour.
“Heart disease is no longer affecting only adults. We are now seeing children being born with heart complications, and this is partly linked to poor nutrition and risky lifestyles during pregnancy,” Dr. Odur said.
He identified unhealthy diets, excessive alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and delayed medical attention as some of the leading drivers of cardiovascular disease in the region.
“We need people to adopt healthier lifestyles by eating balanced diets, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption and smoking, and seeking medical attention early,” he said.
Dr. Odur also cautioned against self-medication, saying many people take medicines without first establishing the cause of their illness.
“Many people take medicines without first knowing what they are suffering from. Self-medication is risky because it delays proper diagnosis and treatment,” he said.
He urged residents to undergo regular medical checkups, emphasizing that early diagnosis and timely treatment are key to preventing severe complications associated with heart disease.
Health experts have also warned that declining cardiovascular health among adolescents, coupled with rising childhood obesity and other lifestyle-related risk factors, could further increase Uganda’s heart disease burden unless preventive measures are strengthened.
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