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Smart Heart Exhibition

Warrington and Halton Hospitals Smart Heart campaign, which works with children across the boroughs and further afield will be displaying their artwork at an exhibition between 1st and 13th February, at The Gateway Centre in Warrington.

WHH Smart Heart started in December 2016 and has visited 75 schools since then talking to 3145 year 4-6 children about keeping their hearts healthy. Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Dr Ahmed Farag visits the school with his team of junior doctors in support with their interactional talk encouraging children to get involved in what makes them healthy and what might not as they get older.

After the visits to the schools Dr Farag started receiving Thank you letters and posters that the children had put together having being inspired by what they had learnt and wanting to share with a wider audience the importance of looking after their hearts. The work has been presented in the annual British Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation conference in Glasgow last October and received excellent feedback from the delegates.

Dr Farag decided to display this amazing artwork from the children to reach a wider audience of their families and the general public to encourage them to listen to the children and look after their hearts.

Dr Farag explains,

“We know that 1 in 3 of 15 years old either smoke or have tried smoking at some point. People who start smoking at a younger age are more likely to become highly addicted smokers. We also know that the majority of children try smoking to either “look cool” or due to pressure from friends.

“This project gives kids the power of knowledge to make the right choice and to say no to smoking if they are ever offered a cigarette. By focusing on prevention rather than cure, I see this intervention as a worthwhile investment in our future particularly with all the financial constraints that the NHS is facing. And I am determined to do this on a yearly rolling basis.”

If you would like Dr Farag and his team to visit your school this year to talk to your Year 4s, please get in touch by emailing p.mullineux@nhs.net

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