Rheumatic Heart Disease Increases in Outback Community

ABC North West Qld

Topic: Indigenous Australians

Thu 18 Jun 2026 at 9:16am

A disease that can be prevented is rising in a Gulf community, affecting remote Indigenous people.

In short:

A 2023 coronial inquest found three women in Doomadgee died from a preventable disease, and the health system failed them.

New figures show case numbers have jumped by 86 per cent compared to 2020 levels.

What's next?

Community leaders want the North West Hospital and Health Service to change how they manage the disease and address its causes.

Alec Doomadgee was hopeful after a coronial inquest into his sister's and a child's deaths.

The coroner wanted to create change.

Three years on, the condition that killed the women has almost doubled in Doomadgee.

RHD is caused by untreated bacterial infections that can damage the heart.

Rheumatic heart disease is a preventable condition caused by untreated bacterial infections.

People with RHD need regular penicillin injections to prevent the disease from getting worse.

Figures show the number of patients needing injections for RHD has risen by 86 per cent compared to 2020.

Alec Doomadgee is tired of people dying from the disease.

Alec Doomadgee's sister and a child he raised died from a preventable disease, and he says little has changed.

'Systems failed'

A 2023 coronial inquest found the health system failed to provide adequate care to three women who died from the disease.

The inquiry found a health system that lacked trust and had providers who did not share patient information.

The coroner said the systems failed.

Doomadgee is a remote Indigenous community in north west Queensland.

The coroner made 19 recommendations, including improving access to laundry and shower facilities.

Most recommendations have been implemented, with improvements in hygiene and laundry access.

Despite progress, the number of people needing monthly injections in Doomadgee has continued to rise.

A spokesperson for the North West Hospital and Health Service declined to say how many people have ARF or RHD.

The spokesperson said episodes of ARF have increased across the region due to increased surveillance and screening.

Bicillin adherence performance has improved significantly over the past five years.

The pace of some recommendations may seem slow, but it's essential to build trust with the community.

Since the 2023 coronial inquest, RHD symptom management and injection compliance have improved in Doomadgee.

'What have we achieved?'

Overcrowded housing and poor hygiene contribute to the disease, which is more common in Indigenous Australians.

Gidgee Healing chief executive Manjit Seckhon said the root causes of the disease have not been addressed.

RHD is an untreatable condition if a person gets it.

Improving management rates is not enough; reducing incidence is the goal.

There must be a point where measurable outcomes are achieved.

Gidgee Healing CEO Dr Manjit Sekhon believes structural issues in Doomadgee's healthcare remain.

Most people with RHD in Doomadgee receive monthly injections through the NWHHS.

Dr Sekhon said rates could be reduced if ongoing RHD care was managed through primary healthcare.

Helping one person manage their chronic health condition benefits the whole family.

When a patient goes to hospital, they get their injection and leave.

Patients need to understand why primary healthcare is essential for managing chronic conditions.

A Voice to Parliament would represent First Nations people like those in Doomadgee.

Alec Doomadgee said the past two years have been the hardest of his life.

He was once hopeful for reform but now says nothing has changed.

The greatest injustice is when good people do nothing.

Alec Doomadgee feels his chance for change is slim.

The numbers do not lie.

ABC North West Qld — local news in your inbox

Thu 18 Jun 2026 at 9:16am

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