RHD Research Collaborative in Uganda

29/04/2026

Over 55 million people worldwide are living with rheumatic heart disease (RHD), which is one of the most preventable forms of heart disease. Children and young adults in low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by RHD.

Prompt treatment of strep infections with antibiotics can prevent RHD before it starts.

Prevention is powerful and possible.

Learn more about the signs and symptoms of RHD at https://lnkd.in/gUZJN47b

22/04/2026

New insights on preventing rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in sub-Saharan Africa

A newly published study in BMJ Global Health reports on the RESET Program, a large-scale effort to integrate community education and frontline healthcare training for the primary prevention of RHD in Uganda.

The program focused on improving understanding of childhood sore throat—a preventable trigger for RHD—by working across health systems, schools, and communities. Over two years, RESET demonstrated that it is possible to deliver widespread education by reaching an estimated 380,000 community members, training over 500 healthcare providers across 81 facilities to strengthen provider knowledge and achieve near‑universal community awareness at scale in a low‑resource setting.

At the same time, the study highlights a key challenge: improvements in knowledge and awareness did not translate into measurable changes in healthcare‑seeking behavior or short‑term reductions in RHD prevalence.

Why this matters:
The findings underscore that education alone is not enough. Effective primary prevention of RHD will require care models designed with communities, attention to structural barriers like medication access, and sustained, long‑term investment.

Importantly, the study provides a critical foundation for future work—shifting the field toward community‑driven, culturally grounded approaches to prevention.

RESET offers valuable lessons for researchers, policymakers, and implementers working to reduce the global burden of RHD.

Read the full article here: https://t.co/XuvGYw8126

30/03/2026

From Research to Impact

Research does more than generate knowledge—it drives action.

Evidence from research can:
· Inform clinical guidelines
· Shape national health policies
· Improve disease prevention programs
· Strengthen health systems

By translating evidence into practice, research contributes to healthier communities around the world.

26/03/2026

14/01/2026

Dr. Craig Sable, pediatric cardiologist (Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA) and senior advisor to the RRCU completed the 20th capacity building and mentorship trip in November 2025. These trips focus on continuing to build the surgical program and nurse education at the Uganda Heart Institute, specifically procedures related to Rheumatic Heart Disease and Congenital Heart Disease. With support from Edwards Life Sciences, the Thoracic Surgery Foundation, Gift of Life International, Heart Healers International, Rotary International, the Samaritan’s Purse Children’s Heart Project, the Philips Foundation and many other donors, 14 patients were able to receive care. Read more about one of the patients we were able to treat below.

Meet Prossy (15) | Kitgum, Uganda

Prossy was born a healthy, energetic child who loved school, music, cartoons, and helping her mother at home. The firstborn and only girl among her siblings, Prossy has always dreamed big—she hopes to become a doctor one day.

When she was just seven years old, her mother began noticing worrying changes. Prossy grew weaker, was frequently ill with cough, flu, and fever, and eventually became too weak to walk to school. Her education was cut short in Primary One, and the activities she once loved—dance, drama, and community performances—became impossible.

In May 2022, Prossy was taken to Kitgum General Hospital through the NIH-funded ADUNU Program, which works to detect and treat rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Uganda’s public health system. A heart scan revealed severe mitral stenosis and moderate aortic valve disease. She was referred to the Uganda Heart Institute at Mulago Hospital, in the capital city, Kampala. Doctors attempted a catheter procedure, but it was unsuccessful. Surgery was the only option—an option her family feared they could not afford.
Then hope arrived.

Prossy’s mother received a call informing her that surgery sponsorship had been secured. For the family, it was life-changing news.
On November 17, 2025, Prossy successfully underwent mitral and aortic valve replacement and tricuspid valve repair, led by Ugandan surgeon Dr. Tom Mwambu with support from U.S. surgeon Dr. Pranava Sinha. The surgery was a success, and just one week later, Prossy was smiling, recovering well, and preparing to go home.

Her parents are deeply grateful to the sponsors, doctors, and care teams who made this possible. Prossy’s journey is one of resilience, hope, and the power of access to life-saving care—and her dream of becoming a doctor is alive once again.

The photo below, features Prossy, pictured on the left, along with another patient who benefited from this program.

09/01/2026

❤️ Every Heart Has a Story — And Every Story Deserves to Be Seen.

The Heart Art Uganda Project brings the lived experiences of children, families, and communities affected by rheumatic heart disease (RHD) to life through art.

The Project gives space for these stories to be told—and seen. It builds understanding, dignity, and connection for a disease that is too often invisible.

🎨 These pieces aren’t just paintings. They are reminders that behind every RHD diagnosis is a child, a family, and a community fighting for healthier futures.

💗 We invite you to learn more about RRCU’s work supporting prevention, research, and care for those living with or at risk of RHD. Link:

Heart Art Project The Heart Art Project provides opportunities for children to convey their thoughts, ideas, and emotions through art.  For some, it is a pathway to hope, and for others, healing.  Without exception, what begins as a blank canvas ends as a masterpiece.  To learn more, please watch...

17/12/2025

New Publication: Bringing Lifesaving RHD Care Closer to Home in Northern Uganda

A new BMJ Global Health publication shows that rheumatic heart disease (RHD) care can be safely and effectively delivered through primary health centers—bringing treatment closer to patients and reducing the financial and travel burden on families.

Researchers decentralized monthly benzathine penicillin G (BPG) injections from regional hospitals to local clinics in Gulu and Lira districts. The results? Adherence to lifesaving injections stayed high, care remained safe, and both patients and providers overwhelmingly supported the new model.

This study shows that decentralized RHD care is not only feasible but can strengthen access to prevention for thousands at risk. The findings and limitations of this study offer a roadmap for expanding RHD services across Uganda and other high-burden regions.

Link:

Download the PDF

15/12/2025

🎨❤️ Introducing the Heart Art Project!

We are thrilled to launch the Heart Art Project in Uganda, a powerful initiative inspiring connection, creativity, and awareness through art. 🌍💡

➡️ What’s it all about?
The Heart Art Project brings together science, community, and artistic expression to spotlight rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and its impact on individuals and families. Through visual art inspired by real stories and experiences, this project transforms awareness into empathy and inspiration—helping hearts beat stronger in and beyond Uganda.

➡️ Why it matters
RHD remains a major global health challenge—especially in low-resource settings like Uganda. The Heart Art Project uses creative expression to educate, advocate, and build community around heart health, prevention, and care.

✨ Join Us:
👩‍🎨 Share your heart-inspired artwork
🤝 Support awareness and research for RHD
🎬 Watch the full project story, meet the artists and get inspired: https://www.rrcuganda.org/heart-art-project

Heart Art Project The Heart Art Project provides opportunities for children to convey their thoughts, ideas, and emotions through art.  For some, it is a pathway to hope, and for others, healing.  Without exception, what begins as a blank canvas ends as a masterpiece.  To learn more, please watch...

03/12/2025

Access to life-saving Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) treatment remains out of reach for too many.

In many communities, limited resources, long travel distances, and a shortage of trained healthcare providers make it difficult for patients to receive timely diagnosis and ongoing care. Early detection is critical — but without accessible facilities and expertise, countless individuals remain undiagnosed until it’s too late.

🌍 Learn more about how RRCU is improving access to RHD diagnosis and treatment: www.rrcuganda.org

🔗 Visit RHD Research Collaborative in Uganda for more information.
Together, we can close the gap and bring equitable heart care to all. ❤️

The Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) Research Collaborative in Uganda is dedicated to reducing RHD locally and gloablly through training, education, and research.

28/11/2025

Our RRCU team was in New Orleans this November for the AHA Scientific Sessions—and what an inspiring experience! A standout moment was witnessing Dr. Krishna Kumar receive the prestigious T. Duckett Jones Memorial Award for his talk, “Cardiac Care for the World’s Bottom Billion.” Dr. Kumar, a longtime RRCU collaborator and global leader in pediatric cardiac care, highlighted the urgent challenge—and incredible opportunity—to expand access to care for children with congenital and acquired heart disease worldwide.

This mission—improving outcomes for children and young adults living with or at risk for RHD—drives everything we do at RRCU. We are grateful to Dr. Kumar for his vision and renew our commitment to reducing the global burden of RHD, in Uganda and in communities around the world.