Press Release – Rheumatic Fever Network
Pū Manawa Aotearoa, a recently formed network of health practitioners, researchers, and non-government organisations, is calling on the Government for urgent action on rheumatic fever in New Zealand. This country stands out from most other high-income nations – where rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease are now largely eliminated – with health data proving disease levels remain stubbornly high.
The experts who have formed the Pū Manawa network, supported by organisations including the National Hauora Coalition, the Heart Foundation, and Cure Kids, have published an open letter and call to action in the NZ Medical Journal, asking the Government to fund a national register to help manage cases of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease – a Labour Party pledge made before the 2020 general election.