Pacemakers are an effective treatment for chronic complete heart block, both in relieving symptoms and in prolonging life, and should be available to all who need them. The pacemaker implantation rate in sub-Saharan Africa remains dismally low (<10 pacemakers per million population) compared to that of the United States and other developed countries (>

400 per million population). Similarly, there is a virtual absence of centres that can implant cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) in the sub-Sahara outside of South Africa.

The joint Pan African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR) Congress and the Cardiovascular Society of Mauritius CVS(M) was held at the InterContinental Resort Balaclava Fort from 03 – 07 October 2015. The final program and presentations can be downloaded on this site.

On the 01 August I departed to Thailand with the sponsorship of Boston scientific & PASCAR. Overall the trip was without any troubles and I arrived safely in Thailand on the 02 August.

Joint PASCAR and World Heart Federation Hypertension Working Meeting

30 August 2015

ExCel Centre London

The World Heart Federation (WHF) Roadmaps published in this issue of Global Heart examine key barriers at the policy and health-systems levels and propose potential solutions for overcoming them.

Reducing Cardiovascular Mortality Through Prevention and Management of Raised Blood Pressure

INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF RHEUMATIC FEVER AND RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE
In Windhoek, Namibia, Thursday 23 April marked a historic milestone for the pan - African campaign to arrest the march of Rheumatic Fever (RF) and Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) through our continent.

We have reached a MAJOR milestone in the Eradication of RHD in Africa and the world.

Please read the official communication from the African Union.

The World Health Organization estimates that by the end of the decade noncommunicable diseases will be as prevalent as communicable diseases in Africa. Professor Bongani Mayosi, President of the Pan-African Society of Cardiology, paints a picture of the novel activities cardiologists in this region are undertaking in their united effort to battle cardiovascular disease.

AfricaPCR 2015 – a brief report back

It is difficult to be a dispassionate observer at a PCR Course organised by Europa Organisation. Sessions are designed to stimulate audience participation and dialogue, and AfricaPCR 2015 exemplified that approach.