The Fiji Water Foundation has donated a portable echo cardiography machine to the CWM Hospital for its Fiji Rheumatic Heart Disease Control Program.

The Machine worth $50,000 will be used at schools throughout the country by doctors and nurses to detect early signs of Rheumatic Heart Disease.

The new machine is easily transportable and can be powered by a car battery as well when needed.

575 children were screened in the western division by a team lead by Dr Joseph Kado of CWM and Dr Monika Brook of Lautoka Hospital in November last year.

Out of these children, 30 were identified with early signs of Rheumatic Heart Disease.

Another 500 children in the Suva area will be screened next month and the program aims to screen another 1000 children in the Northern and Western Divisions by the end of this year.

Fiji Village, 12 Jan 2010