(front-row-forth-from-left) Minister-for-Health-and-Medical-Services-Hon.-Rosy-Akbar-during-the-launch-of-AMR-and-RDH-awareness-campaign-launching-at-Novotel-Lami. Photo: DEPTFO
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is going to launch a media campaign aimed at people living with Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) and Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) across Fiji.
The launch of the campaign will coincide with a national stakeholder workshop aimed at improving services and adherence to antibiotic treatment among RHD patients.
The two day workshop titled, Rising to the Challenge: Improving Health Outcomes for People Living with ARF and RHD in Fiji” was officially opened by the Minister for Health anr Medical Services, Hon. Rosy Akbar at Novotel Convention Centre in Lami.
Minister Akbar in her opening address highlighted that young people in Fiji have a high risk of getting rheumatic fever.
“Recent research has shown that RHD affects as many as 1 in 50 children in Fiji (that is nearly one in every classroom) and the cost of this disease is significant both at an individual level affecting well-being, and also exacting a huge economic burden due to loss of life and productivity,” Minister Akbar said.
“While RHD is not contagious, sore throats and skins sores are. Part of the work of the RHD program is therefore around prevention of RHD through awareness of the importance of hand washing and obtaining medical or nursing care for treatment of skin sores and sore throats. A really exciting part of the work of the Program is the activities aimed at improving patient understanding of their disease and the importance of monthly treatment.
“So far, nearly 800 patients and carers have attended support group activities across the country and the RHD Program recently launched a media campaign by patients for patients with the key message; ‘Take Your Benza…….. Even If You Feel Well”.”
The RHD Program focuses on patient support groups, use of media and other activities will help reduce the feeling of isolation felt and expressed by many people living with RHD. It will also empower them, through education and support, to better manage their disease.
The launch of the campaign follows extensive patient consultations to better understand the challenges faced by patients in receiving monthly Benzathine treatment.
Many patients reported that they feel well or that they did not understand the importance of Benzathine treatment and that is why they stopped going to the clinic each month.
“The campaign is a reminder to RHD patients to return to their clinic to re-commence treatment. We understand that committing to monthly antibiotic injections for 10 years or even longer, can be challenging. We want to let patients and carers know, however, that they are risking their, or their child’s, future health if they stop treatment without medical advice” said RHD Control and Prevention Project Lead, Liz Kennedy.
RHD is a common yet preventable heart condition, causing significant health problems through childhood and into early adulthood. RHD is the second most common cause of death among 5-29 years old in Fiji. The RHD Program would like to acknowledge the work of doctors, nurses and community health workers who are actively working towards tracing and re-engaging RHD patients in the health system to continue with their monthly treatment.
The RHD Program has benefitted from a variety of innovative approaches and partnerships and the Ministry of Health is grateful for the support received from the public and private sectors. Since 2009, Cure Kids has supported RHD activities in Fiji through ongoing funding from foundation key partner AccorHotels and support from FIJI Water Foundation who also provided specific funding for the Patient Information System.
The New Zealand Partnerships for International Development Fund is a major contributor to the current phase of the Program, along with the technical support provided by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Auckland District Health Board.