Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) and Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Prevention
The high priority action agenda of NHF is to create massive awareness among the public on the aspects of prevention of heart diseases for which all means of publicity, promotion and actions are undertaken. With a focus to prevent rheumatic and congenital heart diseases in children, target programs are launched at the schools located in the urban as well as far flung areas. Children’s heart is screened by medical doctors, diagnostic actions are performed (e.g. ECG, Echo, etc), surgical treatment of needy children are provided at tertiary care heart centers. Technical and financial support are provided as required.
In the past the Government of Nepal had partnered with NHF for RHD program. The program ran from FY 2064 (2007) till FY 2071(2014). Over 10,000 RHD patients had directly been benefitted. NHF had been successfully managing the program but the
Government support was stopped in 2014 AD.
However, NHF was morally bound to continue the program through its internal resources and did it so far. Now the NHF has reached beyond its limited capability to continue financing on it. Mobilizing local resources and with support from external donors (Australian Aids, Medtronix Foundation, World Heart Federation, WHO, Rotary Clubs, Edwards Lifesciences Foundation) NHF has been able to complete heart Screening of more than 300,000 children covering 45 districts of Nepal. More than 2000 children have been supported for medical and surgical treatment.
Distribution of Penicillin Injections to the Rheumatic Heart Patients
Among different components of the program, the segment on medicine and injection is of paramount importance. Making the penicillin injection free of cost through hospitals and other channels to the RHD affected children made life easier for the patients as it is not easily available in the market. Injecting penicillin being little risky, the medical professionals used to hesitate to inject it and NHF made it comfortable for them by providing necessary trainings.
This action has not only saved a lot of money but also prevented patients from having expensive valve replacement surgery. These days many RHD patents have shifted to oral Penicillin which has made the prophylaxis more expensive. NHF is advocating with the Government of Nepal to initiate RHD prevention program at National Level.