Turkish Society of Cardiology is awarded the trophy
“Most successful nongovernmental organization in health”

The first trophy of the Health Volunteers Association established for the most succfessful social responsibility campaign was awarded to the Turkish Society of Cardiology (TSC) for the “12/8 Hypertension Awareness Campaign” at a ceremony held on May 23rd. A jury of experts evaluated several projects for the award established to encourage and promote social responsibility projects in health.

From left to rtight: Altan Demirdere (General Manager of Novartis – Turkey, project sponsor), Ahmet Ünver (Chief Executive Officer of the Turkish Society of Cardiology), Oğuz Engiz (President of the Health Volunteers Association and Jury member)	The Trophy

12/8 HYPERTENSION AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
 
The campaign was started in November 2005 to increase the awareness of the society about the risks of hypertension with the sponsorship of Novartis. The pre and post researches and measurements indicated that the awareness was raised 80 percent.
TSC decided to include the World Hypertension Day in its regular annual activity program in 2006. Both in 2006 and 2007, TSC prepared and distributed posters, banners and leaflets in major cities; installed information and BP measurement stands in major shopping malls; arranged press conferences; appeared in several tv and press interviews; prepared banners to be carried by the football players at all the Superleague games played during the weeks and distributed information booklets during the league games.

However, the increase in the number of people having their blood pressure measured remained quite lower and lifestyle changes were further lower.
In order to achieve significant increase in BP-control and positive changes in lifestyle, TSC designed the second phase of the Hypertension Awareness Campaign in the form of installing Blood-Pressure Measurement and Information Stands in selected major hospitals throughout the country. Specially trained and oriented nurses assigned to measure and record the results, The patients with blood pressure measurements above 140/90 mm Hg were called 2-3 weeks later to ask if they applied for cardiologic check. The patients that did not take any action were called for the second time to ask the same questions.
The pilot project was conducted in 6 hospitals in 2006 summer and the results of the pilot project led to application of the project for two months in 15 hospitals at each step. The Hypertension Awareness Campaign is stil in application with the sponsorship of Novartis.
In 2007 the second step is in effect now. The results of these activities will be discussed in scientific articles at the end of the year.

“SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROJECTS REQUIRE TEAM-WORK”

Ahmet Ünver (CEO, Turkish Society of Cardiology)
In the name of the President Prof. Dr. Çetin Erol, Ahmet Ünver (CEO of the TSC) received the trophy and said “We are sure that such awards will contribute a lot to encourage further projects in increasing the health awareness of the people and promote positive lifestyle changes. These projects require the teamwork of the medical specialization societies, sponsoring industries and the health journalist. We owe special thanks to our health journalists who have never hesitated to extend their comprehensive support to us in disseminationg our messages to the widest audience.”

PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES OF TSC WILL CONTINUE

Turkish Society of Cardiology accepts public education as an integral part of its mission and develops specific projects in this field. At the end of 2006 the Society accomplished the “National Heart Health Policy” upon the assignment of the Minister of Health and under the coordination of the Chairman of the Parliament Health Commission and submitted it to the Ministry. The Ministry is preparing a summary of the document to be translated in other languages.
TSC also paticipates in similar projects developed by the ESC; the Society provided active support in the preparation of the Luxembourg Declaration in June 2005 and sent in the Project files to take part in all the available modules of the EUROHEART Project Group to be implemented in several European countries.

A JURY OF EXPERTS, A DETAILED LIST OF APPRAISAL CRITERIA

The award jury consisted of the academicians and practitioners of communication that also preside several organizations such as the PR Consultants Association, Education and Health Journalists Association.
The jury discussed each Project according to a detailed list of appraisal criteria from the medical, social and political effects to the integrity of design, implementation, communication and appreciation of results; from the variety of communication materials and media to the number of people reached and the press coverage achieved.