Raising awareness of rheumatic heart disease

Dear editor
“RHEUMATIC heart disease is a sentinel condition of poverty and of health inequality; its persistence marks the failure of our health systems to address the non-communicable diseases of the poor,” says Professor Bongani Mayosi.
The Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR) held its second ‘All Africa’ workshop in Livingstone last weekend (February 2-3, 2014).
The objective of the meeting was to develop policy recommendations aimed at reducing the burden of rheumatic heart disease in Africa, in line with the World Health Organisation Non-communicable Disease Global Action Plan 2013-2020.
Representatives from the Zambian government, ZPASCAR, Rheumatic Heart Disease and ASAP initiative delivered speeches.
Professor Bongani Mayosi of the University of Cape Town, who also serves as the president of PASCAR, can be reached on (021) 406 6200 for additional comment on rheumatic fever and heart disease.
Should you require assistance in facilitating a follow-up discussion with his office please feel free to contact me.
Kholiswa (On behalf of Novartis)
KHOLISWA LEKALAKE,
Head of Communications,
Sandoz, Isando, South Africa.