Health officials in Fiji have reported a concerning total of 4,984 patients diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) as of July this year. This alarming figure was brought to light by Verenaisi Werekoro, the national RHD coordinator for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, during the Fiji Oral Health Association’s annual conference in Nadi last week.
Werekoro highlighted a disturbing trend with increasing RHD diagnoses, particularly amongst pregnant women and young adults. She emphasized the need to focus on school-aged children between five and 15 years old, pointing out the critical importance of early detection and intervention. Rheumatic heart disease often results from complications following acute rheumatic fever, which can cause severe damage to heart valves.
The national coordinator stressed the urgency of recognizing the early signs of acute rheumatic fever to prevent its progression to RHD. “Unfortunately, many cases are identified only when they reach advanced stages,” Werekoro noted. The case distribution shows 845 RHD instances in the Northern Division, 1,160 in the Western Division, and a striking 2,979 cases in the Central Division.
Werekoro attributed the increase in diagnoses to enhanced outreach screenings that have been crucial in identifying cases. New diagnoses are reported daily from various health divisions. This proactive approach is part of broader public health efforts, echoed by health advocates like Erini Tokarua from Heart Heroes Fiji, who has raised concerns over the increasing occurrence of heart disease in young people. She indicated that, alarmingly, one child in every classroom is affected, with a tragic 60 to 70 deaths each year among individuals aged 15 to 29 due to RHD.
Health experts are calling for immediate action, stressing that while a cure for RHD currently does not exist, effective prevention and early detection strategies are vital. Given the rising numbers, concerted efforts are underway to enhance community awareness and improve access to necessary health services. Initiatives such as the Pacific Healthy Homes program aim to enhance living conditions associated with health outcomes, an essential step in mitigating risk factors linked to acute rheumatic fever and RHD.
The focus on raising awareness and preventive healthcare reflects a determined response from both the community and the government to improve the health landscape, particularly for vulnerable groups like children. Through these collaborative efforts, there is hope for improved health outcomes and a potential decrease in the incidence of rheumatic heart disease in Fiji’s future.