The Healthy Heart Check is a service which aims to lower the risk of developing heart disease, which although common, is preventable.. Her full keynote address transcript is below: 

HEALTHPLUS LAUNCHES THE HEALTHY HEART CHECK SERVICE AT ALL HEALTHPLUS PHARMACIES NATIONWIDE

CEO’S KEYNOTE ADDRESS

DATE – Tuesday 26th September 2017

Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press and our Special Guests. I would like to welcome you all to the launch of the Healthy Heart Check Service at HealthPlus Pharmacy.

My name is Mrs Bukky George. I am the founder & CEO of HealthPlus Limited, Nigeria’s 1st integrative pharmacy, the fastest-growing pharmacy chain in West Africa. We are committed to our mission of helping people achieve optimum health and vitality, while delivering superior value to stakeholders. Our vision is to be Africa’s #1 for pharmacy, wellness and beauty.

From inception, HealthPlus has distinguished itself as the pharmacy of choice through the provision of high-quality healthcare products. These include medicines, nutritional supplements, natural and homeopathic remedies, home medical equipment, mobility aids and value-adding pharmacy services – rendered by certified and well-informed healthcare professionals, in a friendly and hygienic environment.

Today, we have 72 Pharmacies and Beauty Stores in 10 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). We employ over 700 Nigerians, 120 of which are Pharmacists. We are proud to be the largest employer of Pharmacists in Nigeria.

Yesterday, Monday 25th Spetember 2017, we celebrated the annual World Pharmacists Day. The theme for this year was “From research to Healthcare: Your Pharmacist is at your service”. This theme was chosen to reflect the numerous contributions the pharmacy profession makes to the healthcare industry. From research and development of medicines, to educating future Pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, and providing direct care. We do all this in the service of our patients and communities,”

On Friday, 29th September 2017, we will be celebrating the World Heart Day. The theme for this year is “Share The Power”. Your heart powers your whole body. It lets you love, laugh and live your life to the full. That is why it is so important to look after it. If you do not, you are putting yourself at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes heart disease and stroke. To celebrate the World Heart Day, HealthPlus will be launching the Healthy Heart Check Service today which is one of the many value-adding services that we offer to meet the health needs of the communities and environs in which we serve.

Heart disease is one of the greatest causes of premature death. In Nigeria, 436 males and 476 females out of every 100,000 die as a result of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. These deaths can be prevented. The Healthy Heart Check is a service which aims to lower the risk of developing heart disease, which although common is preventable. The Service includes:

• A private consultation to review your medical history, current medications, and lifestyle
• A range of diagnostic tests, which focus on different conditions, all of which cause heart disease:
• Blood Pressure measurement

• Blood Glucose measurement
• Body Mass Index measurement
• Blood Cholesterol measurement
• High Density Lipoprotein measurement (HDL)
• Low Density Lipoprotein measurement (LDL)
• Total Triglyceride measurement

Following the diagnostic tests, we will be able to tell you what your cardiac age is (that is, your Heart Age), as well as predict your risk of developing heart disease in the next 10 years. We will also provide advice on how to improve your heart health and help you continue to live a healthy lifestyle

To carry out this service, we have partnered with RapidCheck Diagnosis & Wellness Limited who have graciously supported our efforts and will be providing the monitors which will be used for the service. In addition, our pharmacists have been adequately trained and equipped with standard operating procedures (SOPs) to carry out the service professionally and accurately.

The Healthy Heart Check Service will be officially launched across 20 branches of HealthPlus Pharmacy effective Friday 29th September 2017. At these 20 branches, the service will cost our customers N4,500 only to get results for all the tests listed above. The list of 20 branches can be obtained from our website www.healthplus.com.ng. In addition, as we celebrate World Heart day, we are offering 20 FREE Blood Glucose tests at all HealthPlus stores nationwide on the same day Friday 29th September.

We therefore invite every Nigerian to visit any of the participating HealthPlus branches to check their heart health and get valuable advice on how to maintain a healthy heart.

We plan to expand the Healthy Heart Check Service to all 46 locations of HealthPlus branches over time as our ultimate aim is to make every Nigerian Healthy Heart Aware and to contribute our quota to making universal healthcare coverage available to all Nigerians.

Thank you very much!

Mrs O. A. (Bukky) George

Founder & CEO

HealthPlus Limited