The Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg handed over a donation of EUR 5 million for the Prevention and Reduction of Child Rheumatic Heart Disease in Mongolia to UNICEF Mongolia.

Rheumatism is the most commonly acquired heart disease globally in people under the age of 25. It starts as a sore throat from a bacterium called Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) which can spread easily from one person to another. Every year, the disease claims 288,348 lives worldwide. The earlier it is detected; the earlier action is taken which leads to a better health outcome. According to 10-year morbidity data (2011-2021), children’s morbidity accounted for 29.1 percent of the total morbidity in Mongolia. The report, issued by the Center for Health Development in 2022, stated that respiratory tract infections had been the most common among children under 15.

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Government of Luxembourg on behalf of UNICEF Mongolia for its generous contribution made in support of the health of the most vulnerable children in Mongolia. Investing in the Prevention and Reduction of Child Rheumatic Heart Disease is one of the most cost-effective interventions to ensure a reduction in Child congenital diseases” says Evariste Kouassi-Komlan, UNICEF Representative in Mongolia.

UNICEF Mongolia’s Rheumatic prevention program aims to screen girls and boys, including adolescents, at an early stage for Rheumatic Heart Disease and streptococcus pharyngitis with the help of medical workers who are capable of using existing equipment to diagnose child heart disease and other non-communicable diseases.

Additionally, the program will create an enabling environment for antenatal care and early infancy and adolescents’ health, as well as train doctors, nurses, and health workers for an improved capacity in diagnosing and using existing equipment for early screening of congenital heart disease (CHD) and other non-communicable diseases among infant children. Finally, the program will promote healthy lifestyles including good hygiene through targeted awareness-raising campaigns.