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COOPERATIVE SOCIAL EMERGENCY TRANSPORT POBIC

On a mission to Accra: towards a research protocol on rheumatic disease in Ghana

From September 14 to 18, 2025, the Chief Operations Officer of the Pobic Association, Ada Caraffini, took part in a mission to Ghana, together with cardiologist Davide Morolla. Objective of the trip: to initiate work on the development of a research protocol on the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in children, with a specific focus on the 3 to 15 age group, which is the most affected by this condition.

During the mission, Pobic worked in collaboration with the Cardiothoracic Teaching Hospital of Accra, one of the country's main reference centers, along with the pediatric cardiologist Prof. Nana-Akyaa Tao and the Dr. Innocenti Adzamil, professionals committed for years to the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cardiovascular diseases.

Rheumatic heart disease: a preventable yet still widespread condition

The rheumatic heart disease it is a chronic condition that develops as a result of a acute rheumatic fever, generally triggered by an infection from Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (such as untreated pharyngitis or tonsillitis).


If not treated promptly, inflammation can cause permanent damage to heart valves, leading to serious complications such as heart failure, arrhythmias, and the risk of early death.

 

This pathology mostly affects children and adolescents in settings where access to timely medical care is limited. According to the World Health Organization, over 39 million people worldwide live with heart damage of rheumatic origin, with a heavier burden concentrated in low- and middle-income countries.

Why Ghana specifically?

Ghana is among the African countries where rheumatic heart disease continues to have a significant impact on pediatric health.
Numerous local studies confirm a’high incidence among school-age children, exacerbated by factors such as:

  • limited access to primary health care services,

  • scarce availability of timely antibiotic therapies,

  • socioeconomic and environmental conditions that favor the spread of untreated respiratory infections.

In this context, the definition of a research protocol mirato represents a fundamental first step to collect reliable data, understand the real scope of the phenomenon and design, in the future, evidence-based health interventions.

One step at a time

The development of a shared protocol with Ghanaian clinical and institutional partners will allow Pobic to:

  • strengthen cooperation with the local healthcare system,

  • contribute to the epidemiological knowledge of a too often neglected disease,

  • lay the groundwork for possible future developments, in line with the association's international mission.

As Ada Caraffini herself pointed out in her mission report, this is a first step, important, but to be traveled with care, listening and collaboration.
Pobic will continue to document the progress phases of this project, sharing updates and reflections with its community and partners.

 

Follow our social media channels so you don't miss upcoming updates from Ghana and our other missions around the world.

THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT

WE SAVE THE LIVES OF DOZENS OF CHILDREN EVERY YEAR. HELP US DO EVEN MORE.

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  • Marketer and professor of communication and marketing, sensitive to humanitarian and relief issues. I only write about what truly interests me, and POBIC's mission is of crucial importance.

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