The heart of Africa: succeeding against the odds

South Africa and other areas of sub-Saharan Africa have in the past 20 years undergone rapid demo-graphical changes, largely due to urbanization and changes in lifestyle. This rapid change has led to a marked increase in specific cardiac conditions, such as hypertensive heart disease and coronary artery disease (with the highest prevalence in the middle-aged population), in conjunction with a range of other heart diseases, which are historically common in Africa—eg, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and unoperated congenital heart disease.

PASCAR & Tanzania Cardiac Conference, Dar Es Salaam 20-22 April 2016

In February 2016 Prof. Karen Sliwa participated as an invited speaker at the PASCAR First Cardiac Imaging conference, which took place jointly with the Sudan Heart Society’s Fourth International Conference, in Khartoum, Sudan.

The Road to Addis speaks to the Africa Union’s ‘Addis Ababa Communique on eradication of Rheumatic Heart Disease in Africa’.

Prof. Karen Sliwa-Hahnle held the Pan-African Cardiac Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Task Force meeting jointly with the first Tanzania Cardiac Conference in Dar es Salaam (20-22 April 2016).

PASCAR and Boston Scientific continues their investment in the skills development in Sub Sahara Africa to develop, support and guide Allied’s.

Edward Rieth was identified as candidate for an extensive 6 month training program in Echocardiography for qualified Clinical Technologist who specialise in cardiology. The course started on the 4th of April 2016 and will conclude on 30 September 2016. The host unit is Division of Cardiology, University of Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Hospital South Africa. The program is under the guidance of Prof Anton Doubell (Head of Department) and Dr Alfonso Pecoraro (Program Director).  The objective of the fellowship is to upgrade the candidate’s skills in specifically echocardiography for adults but also include paediatric.

The training program consist of the following
o General echocardiography including paediatrics
o Electrophysiology lectures
o Cath lab hands on training
o Hands on echocardiography training with tutor

1st TANZANIA CARDIAC SOCIETY (TCS) CONGRESS IN COLLABORATION WITH PAN-AFRICAN SOCIETY OF CARDIOLOGY

African Allied’s as faculty and developing of an Africa Allied’s Society in joint venture with Boston Scientific.

A Namibian Broadcasting Corporation interview with Dr Chris Hugo-Hamman and the Minister of Health on Rheumatic Heart Disease

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 7 March 2016 – The African Union Commission in collaboration with the Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR), WHO and other key partners concluded a three day meeting aimed at developing a roadmap for the eradication of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) in Africa.  According to WHO, RHD is the most common cause of acquired heart disease among children in developing countries, and it affects school-aged children in Africa.

Press Release Nº057/2016