Navua celebrated its first World Heart Day yesterday, bringing together ten local schools for a march from the old Navua Hospital to the Vashist Muni Memorial School hall. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness about heart health, especially concerning rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and acute rheumatic fever (ARF), which predominantly affect children.
Erini Tokarua, the manager of Heart Heroes Fiji, emphasized the need for schools to participate in this initiative. “We want schools to recognize World Heart Day and understand the significance of rheumatic heart disease and awareness,” Ms. Tokarua stated. She pointed out that, statistically, one student in every classroom is likely affected by rheumatic heart disease.
“This means you could be sitting next to someone in the classroom who has this condition without even being aware of it,” she added, highlighting the importance of community awareness and understanding.
Additionally, the event focused on crucial aspects of treatment adherence. Ms. Tokarua pointed out that there have been instances in Navua where individuals were not following their treatment regimens, which could result in severe health issues. “Creating awareness about the importance of treatment is vital for prolonging lives and ensuring that affected children can live normal, healthy lives,” she remarked.