|
|
|
|
The A.S.A.P. programme arose following the Drakensberg Declaration by delegates of the 1st All Africa Workshop
on Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease gathered at the Champagne Sports Resort in the Drakensberg,
South Africa on 15 - 16 October 2005. See declaration [PDF]
Coordinated on a continental level by PASCAR in collaboration with the World Heart Federation, A.S.A.P. concentrates
on four areas of activity:
(i) raising the awareness of the public and healthcare workers about RHD
(ii) improving the quality of information that is available on the incidence, prevalence and burden of
RF/RHD through epidemiological surveillance
(iii) working together as advocates to change public policy for the improvement of healthcare facilities
needed to treat and prevent the disease
(iv) working towards the establishment of national primary and secondary prevention programmes of RHD.
The full implementation of the ASAP approach throughout Africa could potentially prevent 80% of the 300,000
annual new cases of RHD in Africa, reduce maternal deaths from heart disease (due to the danger caused to
young pregnant women who are affected), slash hospital admissions for infective carditis, and prevent many
strokes in young people.
|
|
|
|
|
|
