DESPITE a loss of funding, free health checks are continuing in Portland this month.
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Portland District Health (PDH) and Amcal Pharmacy is offering stroke and heart risk checks with StrokeSafe ambassador Jason Killick.
PDH and the pharmacy have worked together since 2008 to promote awareness on the importance of blood pressure checks and stroke prevention.
This year Stroke Foundation funding for the Know your Numbers program has been axed.
PDH community health nurse Rosemary Cole said blood pressure awareness was important and despite the funding cuts, PDH and Amcal would continue to offer free blood pressure checks and stroke prevention information.
“Too often people are unaware that their blood pressure is high,” Ms Cole said. “That’s why high blood pressure is often called the silent killer because there may be no symptoms.”
Stroke is Australia’s second-biggest killer and a leading cause of disability.
The health check station at the Percy Street pharmacy will offer blood pressure checks tomorrow from 1-3 pm, Thursday from 10am-noon and 1-3 pm and Friday from 1-3 pm.
