{ 'RHD ROKO' } UP launches initiative to eliminate rheumatic heart disease

Aiming to eliminate Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) from Uttar Pradesh within the next decade, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGI) held a high-level meeting of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to launch the ‘RHD Roko Initiative—a first-of-its-kind, large-scale, collaborative programme.

- HT Correspondent

Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma, principal secretary of medical education, who is also heading the programme, stressed the need to integrate the programme with existing state government health programmes by actively involving Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) foot soldiers. “This would make this initiative scalable and implementable,” he said.

“This would make the initiative scalable and implementable,” he said.

The Initiative, launched in collaboration with the UP government and Stanford Biodesign, marks India’s first statewide drive to eliminate rheumatic heart disease. The meeting brought together leading clinicians, scientists, public health experts, and stakeholders from across India and abroad, unified by a bold and shared vision.