This week the Minister for Health Dr Neil Sharma met with the Minister for Education Filipe Bole to work together in raising awareness on Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) among children in schools.
This initiative is also in collaboration with the Suva Rotary Club.
Rheumatic heart disease has been identified as a common cause of heart diseases in children and young adults which can further develop into life threatening illnesses.
“Creating awareness on Rheumatic heart disease amongst school students and teachers will enable early detection and treatment. As such screenings for Rheumatic Heart Disease would be undertaken in school settings,” Minister Sharma said.
“This will ultimately contribute towards reducing the number of Rheumatic Heart Disease cases in Fiji,” added Dr. Sharma.
“I am happy with the initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Health, as early detection will reduce the number of premature deaths from Rheumatic Heart Disease among our school aged children in Fiji,” said Ambassador Bole.
“The Ministry of Education will continue to support Heath Ministry for awareness and information dissemination on Rheumatic heart disease in schools,” added Ambassador Bole.
The Health Ministry and Ministry of Education will continue to work together to identify more effective ways and means of creating awareness on rheumatic heart disease in schools.
Meanwhile more events and a National Rheumatic Heart Disease week are being planned for the near future.
-ENDS-