Rheumatic Heart Disease Patients To Receive Special TXT Messages
28 May, 2007
28 May, 2007
This week, around 30 Rheumatic Heart Disease patients will receive a text message from Vodafone Fiji Limited, reminding them that they are due for treatment.
The free text message reminders are part of a combined effort by the Ministry of Health, the World Heart Foundation, and Vodafone aimed at tackling Fiji’s growing problem of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD).
RHD is the most common cardiovascular disease in children and young adults and remains a major public health problem in Fiji. RHD develops from Rheumatic Fever which causes an inflammation in the heart and leading to major damage in the heart valves.
It is the most preventable form of heart disease that has been linked to poverty and is particularly rampant in low-income, overcrowded communities with poor housing conditions, poor nutrition and inadequate health services.
Chairman of the Ministry of Health, RHD Task Force, Dr Joseph Kado said those who had been identified with Acute Rheumatic Fever (ACF) or RHD were required to go through a rigorous cardiac care program which required ongoing treatment, usually every month.
“Severe damage to the valves can be avoided if patients who have been identified are able to stick to their regular treatment program which is three weekly or four weekly injections and that’s 13 or 14 injections a year, and the text messages will remind them to come in for their next shot.”
Dr Kado said the establishment of a database was part of the Pacific Rheumatic Heart Disease Control programme and to date around 670 cases of ARF and RHD had been registered in Fiji.
“The database is the focus point of the programme and allows us to list every known case to assist with the coordination of their cardiac care, appointments and to monitor benzathine pennicillin G
compliance etc,” Dr Kado said
“We are only just rolling out now into the north and west so most of the cases registered to date are from the Central Eastern medical division. We hope to have two new part -time nurses employed next month to coordinate RHD care points in the north and west and report numbers back to the central register.”
The Pacific RHD Control Programme is being funded by the Vodafone Group Foundation of the UK through the Geneva-based World Heart Federation.
Vodafone ATH Foundation Manager, Lenora Qereqeretabua said Vodafone Fiji was glad to be involved in the implementation of the programme.
“ Vodafone Fiji is privileged that our technology can make enough of a difference in the lives of some of our customers so as to save lives” Ms Qereqeretabua said.
She added that the aim of this programme, which is a free service, was to eventually be able to reach as many RHD patients via mobile phone, to remind them that their next shot was due.
Vodafone has also offered this assistance to the Fiji Blood Service and considered these initiatives an integral part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.
The free text message reminders are part of a combined effort by the Ministry of Health, the World Heart Foundation, and Vodafone aimed at tackling Fiji’s growing problem of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD).
RHD is the most common cardiovascular disease in children and young adults and remains a major public health problem in Fiji. RHD develops from Rheumatic Fever which causes an inflammation in the heart and leading to major damage in the heart valves.
It is the most preventable form of heart disease that has been linked to poverty and is particularly rampant in low-income, overcrowded communities with poor housing conditions, poor nutrition and inadequate health services.
Chairman of the Ministry of Health, RHD Task Force, Dr Joseph Kado said those who had been identified with Acute Rheumatic Fever (ACF) or RHD were required to go through a rigorous cardiac care program which required ongoing treatment, usually every month.
“Severe damage to the valves can be avoided if patients who have been identified are able to stick to their regular treatment program which is three weekly or four weekly injections and that’s 13 or 14 injections a year, and the text messages will remind them to come in for their next shot.”
Dr Kado said the establishment of a database was part of the Pacific Rheumatic Heart Disease Control programme and to date around 670 cases of ARF and RHD had been registered in Fiji.
“The database is the focus point of the programme and allows us to list every known case to assist with the coordination of their cardiac care, appointments and to monitor benzathine pennicillin G
compliance etc,” Dr Kado said
“We are only just rolling out now into the north and west so most of the cases registered to date are from the Central Eastern medical division. We hope to have two new part -time nurses employed next month to coordinate RHD care points in the north and west and report numbers back to the central register.”
The Pacific RHD Control Programme is being funded by the Vodafone Group Foundation of the UK through the Geneva-based World Heart Federation.
Vodafone ATH Foundation Manager, Lenora Qereqeretabua said Vodafone Fiji was glad to be involved in the implementation of the programme.
“ Vodafone Fiji is privileged that our technology can make enough of a difference in the lives of some of our customers so as to save lives” Ms Qereqeretabua said.
She added that the aim of this programme, which is a free service, was to eventually be able to reach as many RHD patients via mobile phone, to remind them that their next shot was due.
Vodafone has also offered this assistance to the Fiji Blood Service and considered these initiatives an integral part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.
