Leaders call for urgent funding to address heart disease crisis in communities

The preventable disease has all but been eradicated in broader Australia, yet it continues to impact Aboriginal communities across the country.

Pediatric Cardiologist Dr Bo Remenyi says little action has been taken by the federal govt to address RHD. Source: Supplied: Facebook

Indigenous leaders are calling on the government for an urgent injection of $40 million to tackle Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD).

The preventable disease has all but been eradicated in Australia, yet continues to impact young people in Indigenous communities across the country. 

The calls come following a Four Corners investigation that revealed three young Indigenous women died of the disease within a 12 month period in the northeast Queensland town of Doomadgee.

State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed the deaths are under investigation, while standards of care delivered and management practices at Doomadgee hospital are under scrutiny.

Noongar woman and Rheumatic Heart Disease Australia Director, Vicki Wade, told NITV News that unless urgent action is taken now, more lives will be lost. 

“We will see at least 9000 more cases and we will see deaths,” she said.

Noongar woman and Rheumatic Heart Disease Australia Director, Vicki Wade. Source: Facebook

Pediatric Cardiologist Dr Bo Remenyi said despite a commitment by the federal government to eradicate RHD by 2030, little action has been taken to address the issue. 

“I’ve been working closely with children, families, communities and health experts across the nation, and I’ve seen too many young people die because of neglect, disinterest, racism and poor health outcomes, all of which are utterly preventable,” she said.

The push comes ahead of the release of feature film 'Take Heart: Deadly Heart' next Wednesday, which demonstrates how investing in community-led initiatives and prevention programs can help solve the problem.

Pediatrician Professor Jonathan Carapetis said funding is the key, as people with RHD "need better care."

“This has been going on for too long, with the Commonwealth and all jurisdictions slow to respond to an ever-growing need with a tragic outcome," he said.

"This is despite the fact that the disease has been effectively eliminated for non-Indigenous Australians."

Pediatric Cardiologist Dr Bo Remenyi with patient. Source: Facebook