In December an RHD community advocacy event was held in Broome, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Rheumatic heart disease is still a major health problem in Aboriginal communities, with some communities recording the highest rates in the world. In Western Australia, two thirds of the state's 600 people living with RHD come from the Kimberley in the north of the state.
 
The event was an important opportunity to engage the local community and promote awareness of the disease and prevention. The event also featured a special screening of some footage from Moonshine films, the filmmakers behind Take Heart. Among the presenters were Professor Jonathan Carapetis (Director of Telethon Kids Institute), Ms Claire Boardman (the Deputy Director of RHD Australia) and Nelson Baker who shared his experience of living with acute rheumatic fever.

The event was made possible through the support of RHD Australia, Medicare Local, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council and the Government of Western Australia Department of Health.

ABC Kimberley | ABC News | Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet