More than a hundred students were tested for rheumatic fever yesterday by Professor Satupa’itea Viali at St Mary’s College, Vaimoso.
The ongoing health programme is part of an effort by the Ministry of Health to tackle heart problems in Samoa.
“Rheumatic heart disease causes much suffering for Samoan patients and their relatives,” said Professor Viali.
“Sending patients abroad for expensive (but life-saving) surgery uses up a significant portion of the country’s scarce health care resources.”
Professor Viali pointed out that Pacific Island nations have a serious problem with rheumatic heart disease.
“In some islands, such as Samoa, the recorded prevalence is among the highest in the world,” he said.
“As we all know, rheumatic fever leads to heart disease.
“Rheumatic fever can be treated if medical treatment is sought early.”
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He said that the programme began in 2008 and they have screened over 10,000 students in both the urban and rural areas.
“This is my first time here at St Mary’s and I found one of the students that I had treated at St Mary’s Primary who got infected with rheumatic fever in 2012 and is now responding to treatment very well. It is preventable and treatable.”
He said that those affected don’t even know that they had heart disease. It costs around NZ$70,000 per patient to have treatment in New Zealand.
“It’s a great hassle for family sending patients to New Zealand so by doing these tests it will cost us less,” he said.
“Early treatment saves money, lives and always keep in mind - prevention is better than cure.”
In August last year, Professor Viali showed that the onset of rheumatic fever usually occurs about two to four weeks after a strep throat infection.
“The best prevention is to come and find out early, when symptoms arise and, very importantly, making sure that the environment that they grew up in is safe and clean and also the food they eat.
“Please do not hesitate to seek medical advice when needed.”
A Year 9 student, Filipaina Kaisa she said she is very excited that she is not showing any symptoms of rheumatic fever.
“This is the second time that Professor Viali checked me and the first one was when I was St Mary’s Primary.”
“All clear...nothing is wrong and I want to encourage all fellow students around Samoa to tell your parents when felt those pains as mentioned that tells us we are infected by rheumatic fever.”
The programme will continue in various schools in Samoa. Rheumatic fever is a serious disease caused by an untreated strep throat infection. In most cases, treatment of the initial infection would stop rheumatic fever developing.
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