Close The Gap Day - 'Take Heart' Special Screening
In the month surrounding National Close the Gap Day 2019 (March 21st), Take Heart is working with Fed Square to host screenings of feature film Take Heart – The Quest to Rid Australia of Rheumatic Heart Disease, narrated by Stan Grant, in order to raise awareness of the high levels of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) in many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Two young Australians die from preventable Rheumatic Heart Disease each week, and yet this disease was eliminated in most parts of Australia by the 1960s. Perhaps more than any other, this disease exemplifies the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Rheumatic Heart Disease must be put in the history books as a matter of urgency.
A unique window of opportunity presents itself over the coming months in the lead up to the next federal election, calling for immediate action on RHD prevention and treatment.
Individuals and organizations part Close The Gap’s grassroots movement will be facilitating a series of film screening events across the country, including this free screening at Fed Square. All events are endorsed by National Close the Gap Day through ANTaR – Australians in support of justice, rights and respect for Australia’s First Peoples.