RHD Action Alliance members prepare to launch RHD Action Africa

The joint Pan African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR) Congress and the Cardiovascular Society of Mauritius CVS(M) was held at the InterContinental Resort Balaclava Fort, Mauritius from 03–07 October 2015. PASCAR 2015 convened clinicians, policy-makers, researchers, advocates and other stakeholders from Africa and beyond to discuss topical cardiovascular issues and trends on the continent today.

A strong theme across PASCAR 2015 was rheumatic heart disease (RHD), which remains endemic in several countries across Africa. The topic was central to several sessions and surrounding discussions, culminating at the launch of RHD Action Africa – the first continental arm of the RHD Action movement, which was launched the previous week during the UN General Assembly.

Rheumatic heart disease remains a significant problem in Africa; an alarmingly large percentage of the 275,000 deaths caused by RHD each year occur on the continent. To highlight the need for action, the launch of RHD Action Africa began with a short video encapsulating RHD and its implications at a global level.

This was followed by lively presentations by the three inaugural RHD Action Global Partners on each organization’s area of RHD expertise: the World Heart Federation (global policy and advocacy experts); RhEACH (clinical, research and technical experts); and Medtronic Philanthropy (partnerships, empowering people living with the disease and private sector engagement). Speakers representing RHD Action’s inaugural Country Partners in Tanzania and Uganda then took to the floor, painting an engaging picture of the realities of RHD on the ground at the national level. A question and answer session closed the Launch, at which point guests were directed to the RHD Action booth, where they could access the RHD Action movement’s latest resources, all of which are available online at the RHD Action Resource Hub.

Encouragingly, several PASCAR country delegates have since expressed interest in joining the movement, inspired by the progress being made in the movement’s inaugural RHD Action Country Partners in Africa: Tanzania and Uganda.

The RHD Action Alliance would like to extend its congratulations and thanks to the Pan African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR) and the Cardiovascular Society of Mauritius (CVS(M)) for co-ordinating such a lively and relevant Congress, and hosting the launch of RHD Action Africa. We look forward to continuing our work and collaboration across the African continent as we strive to consign RHD to the history books.

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A group PASCAR 2015 delegates promote physical activity with a ‘Walk for Life’