MORE than 30,000 people, including 10,000 schoolchildren and more than 2600 pregnant women, were screened for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) under a five-year program launched yesterday in Suva.
The figures were revealed at Tanoa Plaza during the launch of the Fiji Rheumatic Heart Disease Support Programme 2020–2025 Report. Screening has been introduced in schools and expanded into antenatal services, helping identify people at risk earlier.
Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu said the program had strengthened diagnostic capacity, community awareness and the skills of clinicians and community members.
New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji Greg Andrews said New Zealand’s support had helped establish Fiji’s response to acute rheumatic fever and RHD.
“Through its initial support to Cure Kids via our partnerships fund, New Zealand Health laid the foundations of Fiji’s acute pneumatic fever and RHD response, strengthening surveillance systems, clinical guidelines, early detection pathways and prevention and health promotion efforts,” Mr Andrews said.
Cure Kids Fiji country manager Dr Jimaima Kailawadoko-Matanaicake said the program was about giving children the opportunity to live healthy lives.
“Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy, to learn, to play and to reach their full potential. Rheumatic heart disease should not stand in the way of that,” she said.
