Rheumatic Heart Disease Australia – 2018

Ms Diana Mosca1

1Rheumatic Heart Disease Australia, Darwin, Australia

 

Rheumatic Heart Disease Australia (RHDAustralia) is funded under the Australian Government’s Rheumatic Fever Strategy to support the control of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Australia. The aim of this hotspot is to highlight the current activities of RHDAustralia. Australia has among the highest prevalence of RHD in the world, largely in rural/remote communities. Resources are available to support people with RHD, and those who work with them.

What we are doing:

⦁              The Australian ARF/RHD Guideline is being updated and expanded. The new edition will be based on the latest evidence-based research, with a focus on culturally-appropriate practice.

⦁              The current Guideline, a rheumatic fever diagnosis app, and an injection treatment tracker app are freely available online.

⦁              We work in partnership with RHD control programs across Australia to deliver workshops for the health workforce to increase capacity around RHD prevention and management.

⦁              Free e-learning modules, short movies, and many other resources are available on our website.

⦁              RHDAustralia works closely with its partners, stakeholders, patients, families and communities to develop culturally-appropriate information for disease prevention and support. The current focus is on peer support initiatives, self-management tools and health promotional material for people living with RHD and their communities.

Visit the RHDA booth in the trade displays and let us know how we can support you and your community.


Biography:

Diana Mosca currently works as a nurse advisor for Rheumatic Heart Disease Australia. She qualified at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in 1985, and in 30 years her career has taken her from paediatrics, to public health, and back again via perioperative nursing, projects and nursing education. She has worked most of her career in the NT and regional Queensland. She has a Masters in Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Graduate Certificates in Perioperative Nursing and Clinical Leadership, and a Cert IV Training and Assessment.