Two brave, young First Nations people will lead an Australian delegation to the World Congress on Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) next month as part of a renewed movement to improve awareness of the disease and it's shocking impact on young First Nations peoples.
Kenya McAdam, 27, and Henrique Thomas, 20, are Heart Foundation Champions4Change.
Champions4Change is a program led by the Heart Foundation's First Nations Heart Health team which aims to empower First Nations people with lived experience of RHD to raise awareness, educate, inform and inspire action on RHD.
RHD is a condition that damages heart valves and can lead to premature death if left untreated. Tragically in Australia, 3 out of 4 diagnoses of RHD and the rheumatic fever which causes it are among First Nations peoples. And every week two First Nations people die from RHD.
Kenya and Henrique are being sponsored by the Heart Foundation and two philanthropic organisations, The Snow Foundation and Red Dawn, to attend the World Heart Federation's World Congress on Rheumatic Heart Disease in Abu Dhabi this November 1st to 5th.
They will be leading a delegration of 78 Australian RHD and First Nations experts with the goal of raising awareness of how RHD – despite being wiped out in urban areas – continues to be a challenge to end in remote First Nations communities.
The pair – who have not left Australia before - are passionate about sharing their personal stories of living with RHD and making a case for the support needed to help community-led efforts end RHD in Australia.
"Most Australians believe heart disease is something that gets you in old age," said First Nations Health Lead and Noongar woman, Vicki Wade.
"But as our young Champions will tell you, rheumatic heart disease is tragically a serious health concern for First Nations people including those at much younger ages. Our children are being diagnosed as early as three years old.
The grassroots effort to end RHD in Australia
Heart Foundation CEO David Lloyd commended the National Aborignal Community Controlled Organisation (NACCHO) for its recent appointment as the lead agency of Australia's rheumatic fever strategy.
He said community-led efforts were the key, and in many case were already having an impact.
"RHD needs more attention from Australians because the rheumatic fever strategy has the answers, we just need generate a better understanding of what it is, why exists, and how easy it is solve – if we wish," Mr Llloyd said.
"We are rapt at the Heart Foundation to be working closely with NACCHO to improve the heart health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
"It is our hope that through this strong approach to self-determination that Australia finally achieves its goal of eradicating RHD in Australia by 2031.
"The well-being of future generations depends on it."
