Experts from Across the World Meet in Mexico to Talk About Heart Diseases Novartis
go to original June 5, 2016

CCTV America’s Franc Contreras recently underwent a multiple bypass heart surgery in Mexico. Watch his personal account and follow along as he answers questions about the experience in this Q&A. (CCTV America)

Update: The Mexico Declaration for Circulatory Health, the First Ever Global Declaration on Heart Health, Has Been Made (News Ghana)

From June 4-7 Novartis scientists participate in the World Congress of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Health (WCC) in Mexico. This Congress brings together thousands of heart health professionals from around the world. One of the key topics is rheumatic heart disease (RHD).

RHD - caused by untreated streptococcal throat infections - has been practically eliminated in wealthy nations, but it remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, particularly in children and young adults. RHD is a truly preventable chronic disease. Properly treating strep throat with antibiotics can prevent rheumatic fever, the precursor to RHD.

In 2012, Novartis and partners launched a comprehensive public-private effort in Zambia led by Dr. John Musuku at Lusaka University Teaching Hospital, who is one of the country’s only pediatric cardiologists. The BeatRHD team is conducting research to determine RHD prevalence, screening children for early signs of heart damage, helping to improve diagnosis and treatment of strep throat in government clinics, and raising public awareness about the disease.

Reports on progress and achievements of BeatRHD will be presented at the Congress. For more information go to Global Heart Journal and World Heart Federation

Related: Cardiovascular Disease, the Leading Cause of Death in Mexico (Science News Hub)

Related: Health Experts Urge Global Action to Tackle Biggest Killer of Women (The Nation)

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