Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease: Where are we now in South Africa?

ABSTRACT

South Africa continues to face unacceptably high rates of rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD); despite readily available and inexpensive preventive measures. However; in the past several years; key players in South Africa's healthcare and political realms in addition to key players from many African nations have come together to acknowledge the persistent health burden attributable to RF/RHD and have agreed to a pledge of action to reduce it.The plan of action is a comprehensive RF/RHD prevention and treatment programme known as ASAP. The ASAP programme targets efforts to raise Awareness; establish surveillance systems; Advocate for increased resources for treatment; and to promote Prevention strategies. South Africa currently has a demonstration site where activities in all of these key areas are currently underway. Efforts in the area of surveillance include a RHD prevalence study that aims to screen 4 000 school-aged children through the use of a mobile echo-surveillance unit. In addition to local efforts; South Africa will join an international initiative to create a global RHD registry that will aid in all aspects of prevention and treatment to further reduce the burden of disease attributable to RF/RHD