The Ministry of Health and Medical Services, National Rheumatic Heart Disease Programme and Cure Kids have launched the Fiji Rheumatic Heart Disease Support Programme 2020–2025 Report, highlighting progress in preventing, detecting and managing the disease.
Rheumatic heart disease, or RHD, can develop following rheumatic fever and can cause long-term damage to the heart valves.
Children between five and 15 years old are considered most at risk in Fiji.
The report says an average of 71 deaths a year have been attributed to RHD over the past 10 years, with the disease estimated to cost Fiji about $18 million annually in medical and other costs.
A major concern is that RHD can develop without obvious symptoms, meaning significant heart damage may have already occurred by the time a person becomes unwell.
Over the past five years, more than 13,000 school children, pregnant women and family members have been screened for RHD.
Screening has been introduced in schools and expanded into antenatal services to identify people at risk earlier and ensure they receive appropriate treatment and follow-up care.
Cure Kids Fiji Country Manager Dr Jimaima Kailawadoko-Matanaicake says every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy, learn, play and reach their full potential without RHD standing in their way.
She says the aim is to identify and care for more children early so fewer will require complex heart surgery later in life.
The programme is a partnership involving the Ministry of Health, Cure Kids and other regional partners, with support from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
