Between July and August 2016, the World Heart Federation carried out a survey of RHD civil society on behalf of RHD Action. The survey was designed to assess the needs and priorities of the RHD community, with the aim of informing decision-makers about what is needed to improve RHD prevention and control.

There was an overwhelming response to the survey: 166 individuals and organizations representing 40 countries and over 1,500 collective years of experience participated.
 
A wide variety of professions was represented among the participants, including researchers, nurses, cardiologists, programme managers and many more. Seven people living with RHD also participated, who called for greater publicity and awareness around the issue.
We would like to extend our warmest thanks to all those who contributed their time and thoughts to this survey. Your responses are a testament to the powerful voice of the global RHD community. RHD Action is delighted to channel your needs and priorities into our advocacy work, especially in our ambition to bring about an official WHO Resolution on RHD.

Survey Questions
Survey participants were asked a number of questions on different aspects of RHD prevention and control, and identified the following areas as their top day-to-day needs and priorities for inclusion in future global RHD policy:

Top 5 day-to-day needs of respondents

1. More funding and financial resources
2. More support from their government
3. Training for existing medical and non-medical staff
4. More support from the World Health Organization
5. More medical staff

Top 5 priorities for inclusion in Global RHD Policy

1. Acknowledgement that RHD is a public health priority
2. Clear targets and goals to reduce the burden of the disease
3. Pledges to invest more money into global RHD control
4. Guidance on primary prevention
5. Research into the epidemiology of RHD

Participants were keen to stress the feasibility of enhanced RHD prevention and control, with one respondent noting that “Costa Rica and Cuba have shown RHD control can be achieved over 10 years without that much money”. Another participant stressed the humanitarian imperative of addressing the global RHD burden: “RHD has crippled the lives of many innocent human beings on earth. […] It is making poor nations poorer.”
By identifying practical and policy needs, the results of the survey can aid and inform efforts to formulate global policy on RHD. RHD Action is currently working with governments to try to develop a WHO Resolution on RHD, which would secure the disease as a global health priority.

You can stay up to date with developments in RHD policy and prevention & control via the RHD Action website and by subscribing to our newsletter RHD Beat.

For further information about this survey please contact Joanna Markbreiter, Policy and Advocacy Manager, World Heart Federation, here