Fiji Marks Major Milestone in Rheumatic Heart Disease Prevention and Control
Suva, Fiji – 3 September 2026: For too many children in Fiji and across the Pacific, Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) has been one of the leading causes of heart disease in young people.
It starts with Acute Rheumatic Fever or ARF and is caused by a single or recurrent infection of Group A Streptococcus which can lead to long term damage of your heart valves.
The tragedy is that RHD is preventable – but by the time symptoms appear, significant and irreversible damage may already have occurred.
Today, Fiji marked an important milestone in its efforts to change that.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services, National Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) Programme Team and Cure Kids officially launched the Fiji Rheumatic Heart Disease Support Programme 2020–2025 Report, reflecting on the progress made over the past five years to strengthen the prevention, early detection and management of rheumatic heart disease in Fiji.
Rheumatic heart disease remains a significant health challenge in Fiji and across the Pacific. But Fiji is changing the story.
Since 2014, Fiji has been building one of the most proactive approaches to RHD prevention and detection in the Pacific.
Systematic screening has been introduced in schools.
Screening has also expanded into antenatal services, helping identify mothers at risk and strengthening family health.
Awareness has increased.
Healthcare workers have been trained.
The programme’s approach reflects an important shift – from waiting for children to become seriously ill, to identifying and supporting them earlier.
“Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy, to learn, to play and to reach their full potential. Rheumatic heart disease should not stand in the way of that,” said Cure Kids Fiji Country Manager, Dr Jimaima Kailawadoko-Matanaicake.
The programme represents over a decade of collaboration between the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services, New Zealand, Cure Kids and regional partners MCRI, the Kids Institute, Te Whatu Ora/Health NZ and Auckland University, with support from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
This partnership has helped strengthen Fiji’s capacity to prevent, detect and manage RHD, while supporting Pacific-led approaches that respond to the needs of children, families and communities.
“This is not simply about raising funds or delivering a programme. It is about accelerating progress and helping proven solutions reach more children, more families and more communities.”
“It is about creating a future where fewer children need complex heart surgery because more children are identified and cared for early.”
Background and key RHD Facts – Fiji
- RHD is a preventable condition that can result from untreated Group A Streptococcal infections and acute rheumatic fever.
- Fiji has recorded a high burden of RHD among children and young people.
- One in 50 Fijian children could have Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) and children between the ages of five to 15 years are the most at risk.
- Our study showed an average of 71 deaths per year attributed to RHD over the past 10 years. Costing Fiji an estimated FJ$18M a year in medical and nonmedical costs.
- Over 13,000 school children, pregnant women and family members screening for RHD over the past 5 years.
- Early-stage RHD can occur without obvious symptoms, making screening and early detection critical.
- Echocardiography is an important tool in identifying RHD before significant heart damage occurs.
- Long-term treatment and follow-up are essential for people diagnosed with rheumatic fever or RHD.
- Continued prevention, early detection and access to care are critical to reducing the impact of RHD on Fiji’s children and families.