ProCor announced that the Rheumatic Heart Disease Prevention Program in Tonga has been selected to receive the 2008 Louise Lown Heart Hero Award.
The Tonga program screens primary school children for rheumatic heart disease and provides early, effective treatment.
ProCor is a US-based global health communication network that promotes heart health and the prevention of cardiovascular disease through cost-effective practices in developing countries and other low-resource settings. ProCor uses email and the web to provide timely, unbiased health information to enable knowledge sharing among a global community working in clinical, community, and policy settings.
Rheumatic heart disease deaths occur almost exclusively in developing countries, primarily affecting children, adolescents, and young adults. Many cases are detected too late, when the disease has progressed to cardiac failure.
A study recently published in Nature Clinical Practice reported that Tonga has the highest prevalence — confirmed by echocardiogram — of rheumatic heart disease in the world.
ProCor’s 2008 Heart Hero, Dr. Toakase Fakakovikaetau, initiated the program. She would be presented with the award by Tonga’s minister of health, Dr. Viliami Tau Tangi.
“Toa is the only pediatrician in Tonga and is the mother of four children,” said Samantha Colquhoun, World Heart Federation. “She is, on her own and without external support, achieving what many other regions are unable to achieve with far more resources. Tonga is deserving of additional support to build on the base that Dr. Toa has created and develop an integrated RHD prevention program.”
The goal of the Louise Lown Heart Hero Award is to highlight success stories of prevention activities, and we are hopeful that many other communities facing the challenge of rheumatic heart disease will learn from this inspiring program.
