On Monday, October 30th, 2017, at 12 am, at the premises of the Regional and Academic Library Murska Sobota, a press conference was held with the presentation of the Programme for Awareness and Empowerment on Heart Failure. The Centre for Health and Development Murska Sobota is the leading project partner in partnership with the General Hospital Murska Sobota. The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia and supported by the Municipality of Murska Sobota.

The conference was led by Silva Nemeš, MSc from the Centre for Health and Development Murska Sobota. Dr. Aleksandra Jevška, Mayor of the Municipality of Murska Sobota held an introduction. The project was described by prof. Dr. Mitja Lainščak, Head of Cardiology at the General Hospital Murska Sobota and doc. Dr. Jerneja Farkaš-Lainščak, Head of Research at the General Hospital Murska Sobota. Peter Beznec, director of the Center for Health and Development Murska Sobota had closing words.

Raising the awareness on heart failure can enhance the general awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and in people with an increased risk of heart failure the motivation for informing about early recognition of the first symptoms and signs of this disease. Effective self-care in the home environment is the key to preventing acute exacerbations of the disease and improving health-related quality of life.

A number of activities will be carried out within the programme; amongst the most important are interactive empowerment workshops for the patients and their relatives or caregivers. In May an event will be held on the day of awareness for heart failure, brochures will be issued, and ambassadors chosen, through which individuals with this disease will share their experiences with the general public.