RHD – Rheumatic Heart Disease – when people understand their bodies, it empowers them to take care of themselves physically. This is even more important if you HAVE Rheumatic Heart Disease but no external sign of this.
You are asking someone to have uncomfortable monthly injections til mid adulthood, and to trust you that this is important for their health. How much better is the compliance when they can understand the rational for this.
We have started holding community forums to help the people and their families understand this devastating disease. 3% of Timorese kids have RHD.
No one still knows how many kids/ young adults die from this as having a ‘sick’ heart is not something people associated with young people.
There is so much work to be done here.