About 70 young people across Nigeria have benefited from a free heart Hope club medication service for those who cannot afford to purchase its.
The Executive Director Professor F. Bode Thomas, who disclosed this during the inauguration ceremony of Heart Hope club, a support initiative for persons living with heart related diseases at No 2, Joseph Gomwalk Road, near Hill station roundabout, Jos ,Plateau state.
She said,” prompt diagnosis and correct treatment of sore throat, avoidance of self medication and avoid seeing quacks, the bacteria must be fully eradicated from the throat ,if not ,heart disease can still occur because the bacteria causing the sore throat are airborne and are transmitted from one person to the other by breathing in air containing the bacteria.
According to her, the network of people must be used to its for a minimum of 10 days or long -acting form of it must be injected at once.
Professor Thomas added that most of the acquired heart diseases in children are preventable, the majority fall into the category called rheumatic heart disease ,RHD,which occurred following infection of the throat by a particular type of bacteria called”group Astreptococcus” .
She stressed that the disease jointly valves of the heart bear the brunt of the attack so they become incompetent, which places a great stress on the heart.
The Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association ,NMA , Plateau State Dr Bupwatda Pokop offered to be supportive to the move by partnering with NMA to promote and effect some change in the club.
He promised to used the forthcoming stakeholders meeting holding in Jos to brainstorm on advocacy in putting media awareness and enlightenment campaign.
Dr Pokop assured of reaching out to children and ensure that the programme become a success in Plateau state.
Mrs Aliu Chatta advised parents to encourage children living with the heart disease to embrace healthy environment.
She pledged that the Hausa community would be the beneficiary of the heart treatment because many of them are still living in the dark.
Chatta decried the high cost of living which is not accessible for many people Nigerians suffering from heart disease.
