Impact Team shares insights at 1st World Congress on Rheumatic Heart Disease
The first World Congress on Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) held between 2-4 November 2023 brought together global experts on RHD, including Drs. Emmy Okello and Andrea Beaton, principal investigators on the Impact Program. The congress was held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, under the theme, ‘United to end RHD.’
Virtually eradicated in large parts of the world, RHD continues to have a devastating impact on vulnerable communities in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific, affecting 40 million people and claiming more than 300,000 lives every year. Thus, this conference aimed to shed light on the latest research in the field of RHD, facilitate meaningful dialogues with global leaders, and devise practical and tangible solutions to bring an end to this devastating disease.
Dr. Okello presentation was titled, “Know-Do Gap: Implementing and Disseminating Best Practices”. On the other hand, Dr. Joselyn Rwebembera, an impact PhD fellow, made a presentation on Artificial Intelligence empowered detection of GAS positive sore throats using smart phones in Uganda.
The two-day conference symbolized a unified, global front against RHD, and amplifies our commitment to fostering innovation, exchanging knowledge, and mobilizing resources in our battle against this preventable disease.
