Services:
As a Cardiovascular prevention service, Health Hearts Club in partnership with the Ministry of Health, and aided by local and international organisation, aims to provide support to those most at risk of heart disease by helping you to get fit, make better dietary choices and manage your weight. These services are of absolutely no cost to you. All you need to do is sign up and let us help you on your journey to a Better Health.
We welcome everyone including referrals from local clinics from residents of Botswana who meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Are at a moderate to high risk (i.e. at 10% or greater risk) of developing Cardiovascular Disease over the next 10 years
- Are diabetic, or have another long term health condition that increases the risk of Cardiovascular Disease
- Are obese, with a BMI of 30 or more
- Have HIV
- Have peripheral vascular disease
- Suffer from transient ischemic attacks
To find out if you qualify, complete this short form, or contact us on + 267 241 3526 to see if you are eligible to book into your first Care Planner assessment.
The Healthy Hearts service provides clients at risk of Cardiovascular Disease with a one hour face-to-face assessment near to their home. During this session a number of measurements are taken, including cholesterol, BMI and blood pressure, along with assessment of risk factors such as a poor diet and low levels of physical activity.
Clients come away with a personalised Healthy Heart Plan which opens the door to a range of FREE programmes designed to reduce the risk of CVD, including physical activity classes, weight management groups, healthy cookery classes and specialist clinics. The programmes are provided by a range of health and wellbeing professionals including dieticians, nurses and physical activity practitioners.
This is a relatively new initiative and service to Botswana and welcomes self referrals and referrals from Health Professionals. We have a range of mobile, health clubs and activities running across the country.
The Healthy Hearts Club team offer sessions at varying times and days of the week. Morning, afternoon and evening appointments or sessions are currently available Monday to Saturday.
At Healthy Hearts Botswana we understand the importance of a healthy life style. When we look after our physical health, we feel better, fitter and above all more relaxed and better able to face the world.
Healthy for Sure® is a revolutionary healthy living movement founded by Healthy Hearts Botswana to inspire you to create lasting change in your health and your life, one small step at a time. Our approach is based on three simple tenets: Eat Smart * Move more * Be well
There are lots of ways of being healthy that feel good as well as doing you good.
Physical fitness is not the sole basis of being healthy; being healthy means being mentally and emotionally fit. Being healthy should be part of your overall lifestyle. Living a healthy lifestyle can help prevent cardiovascular diseases and long-term illnesses. Feeling good about yourself and taking care of your health are important for your self-esteem and self-image. Maintain a healthy lifestyle by doing what is right for your body. What you gain by living more healthily includes:
- Feeling better mentally – regular exercise can lift your mood and help you feel better
- Saving money – eating junk food, smoking, and drinking sugary drinks or alcohol are all expensive habits
- Fewer health problems – living a healthier lifestyle means a lower risk of developing many illnesses
- Taking control of your life – getting healthy helps you feel in control of your life.
‘Healthy living’ means introducing and maintaining habits that improve your health. It can be difficult to change old habits, but there are steps you can take to become healthier. important first step is identifying less healthy habits and learning new, positive ones to replace them, such as:
- what you eat and drink
- sleeping well and managing stress
- practicing safe sex, drinking alcohol responsibly and not abusing drugs
- being physically active
- staying connected with others
- being aware of any health risks related to your illness and its treatment, and working with your doctor to monitor these and then take action
- taking responsibility for your overall health including having regular check-ups.
Change just one thing at a time – see the benefits that can come from eating more wholesome food or, taking up exercise or, quitting smoking
Make small changes – like going for a regular walk, instead of pushing yourself to run 5km every day, this will have more chance of becoming a habit you’ll keep.
Be flexible – for example, if you decide to cut down on sugar, do it gradually over a few weeks rather than all at once. By cutting down from two teaspoons in your coffee to one-and-a-half, then one and so on, your taste buds will adapt and you’re less likely to crave for the sugar.
Build on what you already do – for example, if you sometimes buy fruit to eat, then try buying more of this (and fewer biscuits and chips).
Remember, increasing or adding even one new health behaviour can make a big difference to your health.
Eat Smart
What is a Healthy Diet?
Eating a healthy diet is not about strict limitations, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, its about feeling great, having more energy, improving your health, and boosting your mood.
Healthy eating doesn’t have to be overly complicated. If you feel overwhelmed by all the conflicting nutritional and diet advice out there, you are not alone. It seems that for every expert who tells you a certain food is good for you, you will find another saying exactly the opposite. The truth is that while some specific foods or nutrients have been shown to have beneficial effect on mood, its your overall dietary pattern that is most important. The cornerstone of a healthy diet should be to replace processed food with real food whenever possible. Eating food that is as close as possible to the way nature made it can make a huge difference on the way you think, look and feel.
Healthy for Sure®
We aim to change food and health attitudes and behaviours, equipping individuals with new skills for healthy living.
The Healthy for Sure program focuses on interactive features like healthy cooking demonstrations, shopping skills presentations and nutrition and heart health workshops. Our goal is to help individuals and families learn how healthy food can help them accomplish their goals and reach their potential every day. Plus, you will have the opportunity to connect with others and share positive experiences and recipes.
Make a difference in your community by become a Facilitator:
Detailed lesson plans, recipes are also provided, free to those who register.
As a facilitator, the resources will help you:
- Prepare and promote the program
- Deliver the educational experiences
- Network and learn from others
No Experience Necessary
The Educational Experiences provide all necessary talking points and resources for facilitators, so a health background is not required. All individuals and organizations are encouraged to register, regardless of experience.
Healthy for Sure® Educational Experiences themes are as follows:
- Your Well-Being
- Cooking Skills and Food
- Grocery Shopping
- Growing Healthy Habits
- Globally Inspired Home Cooking
- Backyard Gardening in Your Neighbourhood
For more information please email: info@pelonomi.com (reference: Healthy for Sure® Facilitator)
