A conference aimed at accelerating the reduction of rheumatic and heart fevers is underway in Cape Town led by the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Gwendoline Ramokgopa.
Prior to the conference, the delegates including Dr Ramokgopa, visited Central Park Primary School in Bonteheuwel, a pilot site for Langa and Bonteheuwel Children to be screened for RHDs.
In her opening address, Deputy Minister said, “We are not satisfied with progress being made in reducing the burden of diseases from Rheumatic Fever, which is a notifiable condition. We need the conference and the scientific community to assist us to quantify progress or lack thereof.
The four pillars that underlie the National Guidelines for the Prevention of Rheumatic Fever in Primary Care are health education, primary prevention through treatment of suspected Streptococcal sore throat with Penicillin, secondary prevention through register-based Penicillin prophylaxis, and surveillance through the notification of acute rheumatic fever.”
Rheumatic heart disease is preventable and yet remains a killer-disease in children and young adults.
In South Africa, the Heart of Soweto Study by Mayosi et al found that 24% of patients with heart diseases at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital had valvular heart disease (Rheumatic Heart Disease). The incidence or new cases in children under 14 years of age was 23,5 per 100 000 per annum, which puts this amongst high incidence communities of the world. In South Africa surgical interventions cost about R50 000 for each operation.
Worldwide 15,6 million people are affected by Rheumatic Heart Diseases. Thereof, 2,4 million are between the ages of 5 and 14 years. Half of these live in Africa. Globally half-a-million (500 000) new cases of rheumatic heart diseases are reported annually. About 350 000 deaths caused by Rheumatic Heart Diseases occur annually, with 100 000 survivors left disabled due to lack of medical and surgical care. In poor countries, 2,5% of strokes as well as many cases of maternal complications and deaths are due to Rheumatic Heart Diseases.
The two day conference, starting today and ceasing tomorrow will review progress made in the implementation of a comprehensive program for the secondary prevention of Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease, since the publication in 1997 of the National Guidelines for the Prevention of Rheumatic Fever in Primary Care and the adoption of the Drakensberg Declaration on the Control of Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart disease in Africa, which was adopted in 2005 and updated this year.
Ramokgopa further said, “We are using this conference to get all stakeholders, health professionals working in all private and public facilities, communities, teachers and parents to realise that we are all responsible to ensure that any child with a sore throat is treated, as failure to do so might lead to rheumatic heart fever. Further, we must all be aware that repeated episodes of rheumatic fever leads to damage of heart valves which, if left untreated, can lead to premature death. This affects our health and economy adversely, especially when we consider the resultant strain put on our hospitals and poor health of workers in their productive age by complications of rheumatic heart diseases.”
The Deputy Minister whilst awaiting from the conference concrete recommendations for implementers, action and timelines, commends all health workers and researchers for their commitment to the control of Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart disease.
For further information kindly contact:
Vukani Mnyandu
Cell: 083 923 0261
Tel: 012 395 8475
Source: Department of Health
