What We Do · Prevention
Preventing Heart Disease
At Global Heartcare Foundation, we believe that the key to eliminating suffering is prevention. With the right training and resources, medical teams can prevent a significant amount of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) currently causing death and suffering in under-resourced communities in Africa and Asia.
Rheumatic Heart Disease: A Call to Action
If we can prevent rheumatic heart disease (RHD), we can help children avoid disability and suffering, and the costly and difficult treatment of open-heart surgery for heart valve damage.
Rheumatic heart disease is caused by an untreated streptococcal throat infection that progress into acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.
Rheumatic heart disease usually affects children aged 5 -12 years; many of these children are unable to attend school.
Untreated rheumatic heart disease can lead to heart valve damage, stroke, arrhythmias, heart failure, and death.
The Facts
Globally, rheumatic heart disease is the most common cardiovascular disease causing more than 500,000 deaths annually.
Rheumatic heart disease is preventable and treatable with early detection. It has been under control in developing countries for over 50 years, but the drugs and technology needed for successful control remain inaccessible to many of the poorest in developing countries.
Currently, the Global Heartcare Foundation is supporting two programs focused on preventing cardiovascular diseases.
RHD Prevention Program in Ethiopia
Health professionals in Ethiopia have developed a pilot program in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health to integrate rheumatic heart disease prevention and control into health service delivery at the primary care level.
We are supporting this effort that includes:
Treating sore throats caused by the strep infection.
Giving monthly penicillin injections over years to children who have already had some low-level heart valve damage from rheumatic heart disease, to prevent the damage from worsening.
Creating a registry of patients with rheumatic heart disease so they can be tracked long-term follow-up.
Measure and evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program, and provide adequate data on the burden of the disease for government planners.
This level of care demands a healthcare system capable of providing long-term monitoring and treatment for children until the risk of strep throat diminishes in adulthood. For children with severe damage to heart valves due to rheumatic heart disease, costly and complex surgeries to repair or replace the valves may be necessary. Unfortunately, in some cases, the damage is irreparable, leading to fatal outcomes, underscoring the critical importance of prevention measures.
The Women’s Cardiovascular Disease Center
By incorporating the initiatives below, we create a holistic approach to addressing women's heart health in Africa, with the potential to serve as a model for other countries on the continent and beyond.
The Facts
Pregnancy uniquely impacts women's health, increasing the risk of conditions like gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia/eclampsia, and peripartum cardiomyopathy, which can be life-threatening.
These risks are more pronounced with increased multiparity. Early diagnosis and medical interventions are essential to reduce complications. These cardiovascular diseases (CVD) pose a significant threat to women's health across the continent. Due to inadequate prenatal diagnosis and limited organized care, the continent faces numerous challenges in addressing women's heart health.
It is estimated that up to 68% of pregnancy-related deaths caused by cardiovascular conditions are preventable.
CVDs, notably hypertensive disorders, are the leading cause of maternal mortality in many countries of Africa, constituting 23%-27% of maternal deaths.
Perinatal diagnosis for cardiac diseases, including rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, and cardiomyopathies, are not routinely performed.
Proteinuria testing for preeclampsia varies significantly (10% - 46%) across the continent.
Almost 95% of all maternal deaths occur in developing nations as of 2020, with Africa alone accounting for around 70% (202,000 deaths).
Organized care for women with cardiovascular diseases at different stages of life is deficient in most African countries, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive programs.
There's a lack of emphasis on early detection and management of conditions like pre-eclampsia, which can lead to life-threatening complications if left untreated.
Our Three Pillar Solution
Community Outreach & Education
Launching awareness campaigns about women's heart health, focusing on the risks of cardiovascular disease during pregnancy and postpartum.
Providing education on the signs and symptoms of conditions like preeclampsia to promote early detection and management.
Collaborating with local healthcare providers to offer workshops and training sessions on maternal cardiovascular health.
Developing a Heart Clinic
Establishing a specialized Women’s Heart Care Program within the heart clinic to provide comprehensive care for pregnant women and new mothers.
Offering prenatal diagnosis services to identify women at risk for cardiovascular complications during pregnancy.
Developing organized care systems to ensure timely and appropriate management of maternal cardiovascular conditions as they arise.
Research & Training
Conducting research studies to better understand the prevalence and risk factors of cardiovascular disease in pregnant women in Africa.
Developing training programs for healthcare professionals on the latest guidelines and protocols for managing maternal cardiovascular conditions.
Collaborating with academic institutions to establish a research hub focused on women's heart health in Africa.
