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Every child in Australia deserves the best possible start to life, but what’s known as the cheeky germ, and which affects people who live in remote communities at an alarming rate, means not everyone gets that same chance.  Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease is something that affects people living in the Northern Territory at an alarming rate. 

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So, what's the solution? How can we as a nation use prevention and education as a key tool to ensure children and families in remote communities have the best possible start to life? 

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In 2022, the Northern Territory recorded the highest rates of ARF diagnoses in Australia, with 117 cases per 100,000 people. The Northern Territory also had the highest number of ARF cases overall, with 1,426 cases. The Northern Territory also had the highest number of people with RHD in Australia as of December 31, 2022.  (AIHW 2022)

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The Healthy Living Program Team and The Heart Foundation travelled to Minjilang to help tackle this with the support of the community, while also providing a safe space for families living with this disease to have in depth and honest conversations about their experiences. Using play-based learning games, students from Mamaruni School in Minjilang explored information and concepts about the body, healthy hearts, ARF and RHD and staying safe. They worked together to problem solve and analyse the games and participated in facilitated yarning circles with Jacinta Hegarty from the Heart Foundation. 

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‘The activities were all very engaging and educational. The students loved them all and in line with our expectations, as always!’

Tracy Brislane, Principal of Mamaruni

Maintaining good hygiene

• Brush your teeth twice a day  

• Wash your face with a clean cloth  

• Remember to wash your hands, including after you go to the bathroom and when you’re cooking up a feed  

• Washing your clothes in the machine so you can wear comfy clean clothes

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Getting checked for skin sores

• If you have a skin sore, make sure you go to the clinic so one of the nurses can have a look at it and help it heal up nicely  

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Remember to take your medicine

• If you or your family member has AFR/RHD remember to take your medicine so you can feel better  

• If you’ve run out of medicine, you can always have a yarn with the staff at the clinic who will help you  

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