Rheumatic heart disease chocking productive population - experts

HEALTH | HEART DISEASE

Rheumatic heart disease is robbing the country of its most economically productive population, Dr Joyce Kaducu, the state minister for health in charge of primary healthcare, has said.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a highly prevalent but preventable heart disease that disproportionately affects children and young adults between the ages of five and 15 years.

Rheumatic heart disease is the inflammation of the heart that occurs with acute rheumatic fever and soar throat; that can result in permanent damage to the heart, particularly the heart valves.

Kaducu was speaking at the opening of a two day rheumatic heart disease Stakeholders' conference last week in Kampala.

She appealed to parents to promptly treat children who fall sick of fever and soar throat as this can escalate and bring about valve blockage, hence Rheumatic heart Disease.

Dr John Omagino, the executive director of Uganda Heart Institute, said the government, through UHI, has established measures to prevent rheumatic heart disease.

"The measures include community screening, media awareness compaigns and sensitisation," he said.