Tuilaepa criticises government response to Samoans held over Vietnam killing

In the remote Australian community of Doomadgee, rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and its precursor, acute rheumatic fever (ARF), have seen a dramatic increase, nearly doubling the number of patients requiring life-saving penicillin injections since 2020. This entirely preventable condition, stemming from untreated bacterial infections, leads to permanent heart valve damage.

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That coroner wanted to leave a legacy of change.

Alec Doomadgee, whose sister and a child he helped raise died from the disease, expressed deep frustration, stating, "I'm sick of having people die at high numbers." He noted that a coronial inquest three years prior, which investigated the deaths and found systemic failures in healthcare follow-up, had offered hope for change. However, the escalating numbers indicate that the hoped-for legacy of change has yet to materialize.

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I'm sick of having people die at high numbers.

The inquest had revealed a health system lacking community trust, with fragmented patient information and unclear responsibilities between primary and urgent care providers. Coroner Nerida Wilson issued 19 recommendations, including establishing a local health council and improving hygiene facilities. While some improvements have been made, such as enhanced laundry access and better adherence to monthly injections, these measures have not halted the overall rise in RHD and ARF cases.

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When they die, a part of me dies, a part of my story dies, a part of my history dies.

Despite progress in hygiene and injection compliance, the number of individuals requiring regular Bicillin L-A injections has continued to climb. A spokesperson for the North West Hospital and Health Service confirmed an increase in injection numbers since the deaths, attributing the rise in ARF episodes partly to increased surveillance. The persistent increase in a preventable disease highlights ongoing challenges in delivering effective and trusted healthcare in remote Indigenous communities.

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Put simply, systems failed.