Uganda, April 12 -- Emily Onziru was still young when she started experiencing episodes of dry throat, fatigue, shortness of breath, and body weakness.

It didn't cross the minds of the health workers treating her that these symptoms were suggestive of rheumatic fever which eventually caused permanent damage to her heart valves, a condition termed as rheumatic heart disease.

Rheumatic fever is a disease that develops when a sore throat caused by bacteria is not treated properly.

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Rheumatic heart disease is the permanent damage of essential heart valves that control the blood flow, a damage which results from rheumatic fever.

"I am a rheumatic heart disease pa...