A celebration to mark the one year anniversary of the Rheumatic Heart Disease Clinic at the Department of Health was held at the Tafuna Community Health Center today.
American Samoa has one of the highest rates of Rheumatic Heart Disease among children.
Many local families were struggling to buy bicillin for their child every 21 days; some families have more than one child with the condition.
Without consistent compliance, children with this preventable disease are at risk for heart failure and eventually premature death.
Thankfully the Alofa Family, Papalii Alofa and his wife Leota Wanda along with Manumalo Academy have been donating funds to purchase the bicillin and also bring heart specialists from off island to diagnose and treat children with RHD. 
Today at the celebration the name of the clinic at the Tafuna Health Center, the Manumalo Alofa RHD Clinic was unveiled. The honor of unveiling the name was given to Leota Wanda.
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Director of Health Motusa Tuileama Nua and RHD Program Coordinator Ipu Eliapo Unutoa expressed appreciation to the Alofa Family, Manumalo School and all those who have contributed to the RHD program.
The unveiling ceremony concluded the celebration of World Heart Day which started with a wave across from McDonald’s in Tafuna early in the morning , and free heart checks at the clinic.
RHD Program Coordinator Unutoa said children’s health must be given priority.
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