Accelerating Progress for Women’s and Children’s Heart Health in the African Region

This statement was delivered by Dr. Lilian Mbau, our Advocacy Committee member for AFRO, at the Seventy-Fifth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, under agenda item 8 - Accelerating Progress in the Health and Well-Being of Women, Children, and Adolescents by Transforming Health Systems in the African Region.

Honourable Chair,

Distinguished Delegates,

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in women globally. In Africa, rheumatic heart disease and hypertension in pregnancy continue to drive preventable maternal deaths, with mortality rates up to ten times higher among affected women. Yet, these conditions are often underdiagnosed and insufficiently integrated into reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health policies.

The World Heart Federation urges Member States to:

• Integrate cardiovascular prevention, diagnosis, treatment - including access to essential medicines such as Benzathine Penicillin G and antihypertensives - into Primary Health Care, UHC packages, and maternal health strategies.
• Prevent CVDs from an early age by limiting exposure to air pollution, tobacco, alcohol, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diets, while addressing commercial determinants of health.
• Equip health workers to manage pregnancy-related complications, including hypertension.
• Implement resolution WHA74.14 on RHD and adopt WHO's new RHD Guidelines.

No woman should die from a preventable cardiovascular condition.

Thank you.