More open spaces urged for healthy hearts

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Heart Foundation (YJI) has urged the new government to provide more open spaces where people can exercise and pursue a healthy lifestyle.

With cardiac problems still topping the list of killers in the country, the foundation raised concern that a lack of public spaces was contributing to the overall decline in people's health.

"We call on the new government to pay more attention to healthy lifestyles by providing open spaces for the public, such as soccer fields and public parks, and by supporting education policies that highlight the importance of a healthy life," YJI chairperson Nerry Aulia Sani said on Friday.

Urban areas in the country have seen the widespread conversion of empty land into buildings, leaving precious little open space for residents.

"The increase in the number of heart cases is connected to people's lifestyle and behavior. We badly need to get information on healthy lifestyles out to the public to help them cut down on the risk of heart disease," Nerry said.

In conjunction with its 23rd anniversary on Nov. 9, the foundation has organized a series of public and private events as part of its campaign against adolescent smoking.

To cap off the year, the foundation will hold the Vienna Ball Charity Night concert at the Shangri-La Hotel in Central Jakarta on Dec. 11. The event will feature the Wiener Saloniker Ensemble from Austria, under conductor Christian Schultz, the Simponi Nusantara Orchestra and sopranos Aning Katamsi, Aida Swenson Simanjuntak and Ndaru Darsono, as well as pop singer Ruth Sahanaya.

Since its establishment in 1981, the Indonesian Heart Foundation has set up 3,292 heart care clubs with about one million total members. The non-profit organization also has raised funds to help 1,679 heart patients pay for medicine and surgery.