MEDIA RELEASE
DATE
XX [region or area] Sri Lankans [or other priority group] - Get your heart and diabetes check now
South Asian people are at a higher risk of getting cardiovascular disease and diabetes than many other ethnic groups in New Zealand. South Asian peoples include Indian, Fijian Indian, Afghani, Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Pakistani, Tibetan and Sri Lankans. XX PHO is encouraging South-Asian people to go along and get a heart and diabetes check.
Cardiovascular disease (heart, stroke and blood vessel disease) is a serious problem in New Zealand accounting for 40% of deaths each year.More than 225,000 people in New Zealand havediabetes (mostly type 2) and those with type 2 diabetes have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease.
South Asian people (males 35 and over/females 45 and over)who are patients in a practice in xx [region or area] are eligible for a heart and diabetes check and education session every five years.
Dr XX from XX Medical Centre encourages South Asian people to get a heart and diabetes check.“It’s a quick and easy assessment that could help save your life”.
“A heart and diabetes checkis one of the best investments you could make. It could help save your life”.
Get a heart and diabetes check. Talk to your doctor or nurse now. Do it for your family.
For further information or comment contact:
Name:
Position:
Ph:
Before using, please check whether GPs or medical centres in your area are offering free checks.
MEDIA RELEASE
DATE
Are you eligible for a free heart and diabetes check?
Many people in xx [region or area] may not realise they are eligible for a free heart and diabetes check.Cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke) is the leading cause of death in New Zealand, accounting for 40% of deaths annually. One New Zealander dies every 90 minutes from heart disease.Diabetes (mainly type 2) affects 225,000 New Zealanders, and people with diabetes are at a higher risk of heart disease.
xx PHOneeds your support to get more people along to get their checks done. A heart and diabetes check is quick and easy and could help save a life - many deaths from heart disease are preventable. Whether it’s getting your own heart checked or encouraging a family member or someone you know to get their heart checked - it will help make our community healthier.
Men are specifically being encouraged to get their mates to have a check up. “If every male in xx [region or area]encouraged one of their mates to get a heart and diabetes check it could change the health of our community for the better,” says xx from xx PHO.
Get a heart and diabetes check. Talk to your doctor or nurse now. Do it for your family.
For further information or comment contact:
Name:
Position:
Ph:
Before using, please check whether GPs or medical centres in your area are offering free checks.
MEDIA RELEASE
DATE
Who is eligible for free heart checks in xx [region]?
Males 35 and over who are Maori, Pacific or South Asian (Indian, Fijian Indian, Afghani, Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Pakistani, Tibetan andSri Lankans or live in xx, xx or xx [suburbs that are quintile 5 or whatever your criteria is].
Females 45 and over who are of Maori, Pacific or South Asianethnicity or live in xx, xx or xx [suburbs that are quintile 5 or whatever your criteria is].
Help xx PHOmake a difference in xx [region or area].
Get a heart and diabetes check. Talk to your doctor or nurse now. Do it for your family.
For further information or comment contact:
Name:
Position:
Ph:
MEDIA RELEASE
DATE
XX practice gets in behind local PHO
XX medical centre has gone all out to promote the importance of heart and diabetes checks to their patients and the wider xx [region or area] community. XX practice manager says both the patients and staff enjoy the promotion, which is fun but has a serious message behind it. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of deaths in New Zealand and we need to do something about it in our community.
“xx [region or area] has one of the lowest rates of heart checks in New Zealand and it’s up to all of us to turn this around,” says xx, xx practice manager. OR
“xxx [region or area] wants to get more people in for checks. We really want the community to get behind this initiative,” says xx, xx practice manager
A heart and diabetes check will assess your risk of a heart attack or stroke and give you the chance to talk to your doctor or nurse about ways to keep your heart healthy and to lead a healthier life. As part of the check a blood test will be taken that confirms if a person has diabetes or pre-diabetes (when a person’s blood glucose (sugar) is higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes).
At the check the doctor or nurse will:
- ask about risk factors such as smoking, exercise and diet
- ask if there is any family history of heart attack, stroke or diabetes
- measure a person’s blood pressure, height, weight and waist
- test for cholesterol and blood glucose levels (for diabetes).
For further information or comment contact:
Name:
Position:
Ph: