Manyara, Tanzania:
Bienmoyo Foundation
Forming global alliances to control and prevent a deadly, neglected disease
Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) is one of the more prevalent, deadly and neglected chronic diseases of the poor, especially in low- and middle-income countries and among indigenous communities in industrialized nations. Caused by rheumatic fever, triggered by an untreated strep throat, RHD results in long-term damage to the heart and its valves.
With increased access to healthcare, RHD has been virtually eradicated in developed countries. However, an estimated 15 million people are still thought to be affected by RHD, the majority of whom are children and adolescents in developing countries.
In Africa, RHD takes a disproportionate toll. Of the 300,000 global annual RHD deaths, more than 200,000 occur in Africa. In the high-prevalence region of Manyara, Tanzania, the Bienmoyo Foundation is hard at work detecting RHD in vulnerable populations in order to treat it.
It's here that Bienmoyo is using a grant from the Medtronic Foundation and other corporate in-kind donations, to screen for strep A and RHD, deploy community health workers and physicians in communities to coordinate point-of-care diagnostics and coordinate these activities through a mobile-health platform. The goal is to screen 10,000 primary school-children and provide antibiotic treatments as well as referrals for severe cases.
This is just one part, and one partner, of the Medtronic Foundation’s five-pronged approach to having an impact on RHD. In addition to early diagnosis/surveillance, funding is also directed to awareness, advocacy, prevention and treatment efforts. Special attention is given to integrating RHD initiatives into the primary care structure of a country or region, helping to not only ensure sustainability of the programs, but to help strengthen the overall health system.
The efforts in RHD are consistent with the Medtronic Foundation’s focus on addressing the global burden of chronic disease. In fact, because RHD is uniquely positioned at the crossroads of chronic diseases, communicable diseases, and maternal and child health, it provides the opportunity to help remove the various siloes that currently exist within healthcare systems.
It is our hope that by building and funding passionate coalitions, we can address this neglected disease in a holistic manner, with an ultimate goal of complete eradication in our lifetime.
Current Medtronic Foundation RHD Partners
Global Advocacy Partner
Africa
Asia
South Pacific
Technology Partner