Pacific Rhd Program

With the support of the The Kids Research Institute Australia and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia (DFAT), we are working with our partners to unify two decades of work on rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in the Pacific region. 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 6 local staff members, our Fiji hub will be a place of learning and evaluation as we develop and implement RHD control programs. The Pacific Program will aid Vanuatu and Solomon Islands to strengthen awareness and ensure equitable management of RHD through supporting- A locally led technical working group made up of clinicians, Ministry of Health representatives, stakeholders and people living with RHD to develop an RHD Control Program - The core role of RHD Coordinator and representatives of people living with RHD - RHD register development and strengthening of secondary prophylaxis - Training and capacity building for health professionals and PLW RHD - Pilot programs in Vila (Efate) and Honiara (Guadalcanal)- Use of program learnings to inform program roll-out