So how do we get there?
A 4-year plan to make a change
With $5 million AUD of funding support, we are laying the foundations for an effective, enduring defense and offense against RHD in the Pacific.
Pacific voices at the helm
Everything we do centres around individuals with lived experience with RHD, local leadership, data sovereignty and iterative learning.
International collaboration
The program is the result of 15+ institutions in 5+ countries working together so far, combining medical expertise and local knowledge.
Evidence-based planning
We're modifying the Tools for Implementing RHD Control Programmes (TIPs), regarded as the golden standard for combatting RHD worldwide.
Our vision
“The ‘Hub’* will be an enduring Pacific-led collaboration centre for the RHD control agenda which combines Pacific culture, local knowledge, and technical support; and which enshrines the sovereignty of Pacific Peoples to contribute to addressing the inequitable burden of RHD across the Pacific”
What's happening in...
Fiji
Our Pacific RHD Hub (which is currently undergoing a formal naming process) will be located in Suva, Fiji. This will be a central base for sourcing, creating and distributing trusted RHD control resources, and the centre from which we broker external support. With the leadership of local staff members, our Fiji hub will be a place of learning and evaluation as we develop and implement RHD control programs.
Solomon Islands & Vanuatu
The Pacific Program will aid Vanuatu and Solomon Islands to strengthen awareness and ensure equitable management of RHD through supporting:
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A locally led technical working group/technical advisory committee (made up of clinicians, Ministry of Health representatives, stakeholders and people living with RHD) to develop an RHD Control Program
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The core role of RHD Coordinator and representatives of people living with RHD
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RHD register development and strengthening of secondary prophylaxis
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Training and capacity building for health professionals and PLW RHD
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Pilot programs in Vila (Efate) and Honiara (Guadalcanal)
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Use of program learnings to inform program roll-out
Recent findings
Read about some of our recent work here!
RHD Lived Experience Workshop:
Real people, real stories behind the statistics
Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) is a major public health concern in many low- and middle-income countries. People living with (PLW) RHD experience stigma, discrimination, and social isolation, which can adversely affect mental health and quality of life. The socioeconomic impact includes loss of productivity, educational disruption, and financial hardship due to medical costs and caregiving responsibilities. These multifaceted challenges necessitate a comprehensive, patient centred approach that empowers PLW RHD to actively participate in their care, advocates for improved services, and fosters community engagement to reduce the incidence and impact of RHD.