A project aimed at reducing the high rate of rheumatic fever in the Hastings suburb of Flaxmere has won a top award in the inaugural Hawke's Bay Health Awards.
The Say Ahh programme is a joint venture between Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and the District Health Board.
It was launched in October 2010 in all schools in Flaxmere.
Project manager Julia Haydon-Carr says there was a real need for the programme with eight children in the suburb diagnosed with the disease over a 12 month period in 2009/10.
She says, since the project started, more than 1,850 children have had their throats swabbed.
Of those, 15% had Streptococcus A - the bug that can go on to cause rheumatic fever.
Ms Haydon-Carr says the programme's been so successful there have been no new cases of rheumatic fever in Hawke's Bay since it started.
She says it's been exciting to be part of a programme that can make such a positive difference to children's health and she pays tribute to the assistance given by Te Taiwhenua.
"They've provided the majority of manpower on the ground doing the swabbing and the consents for the programme and giving antibiotics to the children who tested positive for Streptococcus A."
Rheumatic fever is associated with cold, overcrowded houses.
