The African Union Commission in collaboration with the Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR), WHO and other key partners concluded a three day meeting aimed at developing a roadmap for the eradication of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) in Africa.
According to WHO, RHD is the most common cause of acquired heart disease among children in developing countries, and it affects school-aged children in Africa.Delivering the keynote address, African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs, Dr. Sidiki Mustapha Kaloko reminded participants that the continent was relying on them to ensure that RHD was not a public health problem in Africa. He informed the experts that their efforts to eradicate RHC have not gone unnoticed by the leadership of the continent who take the health of its citizens very seriously.
He warned that development in Africa will be impeded if diseases such as RHD continue to cause disability and kill children. Commissioner Kaloko stated that “Rheumatic Heart Disease is preventable and treatable, so I am calling upon you to address it as a contribution to our Agenda 2063” adding that health is a key element of the Coninent’s developmental framework.
