Children's Heart- LIFE-SAVING CARDIAC SURGERY

Cardiovascular diseases remain a significant cause of morbidity among children in Zambia, where access to specialized pediatric cardiac care is still limited despite the presence of a national referral hospital. Gaps in clinical protocols, limited autonomy of local staff, and challenges in post-operative management continue to affect timely diagnosis and quality of care for children with congenital heart diseases.

In this context, Mission Bambini continues its commitment through the “Cuore di bimbi” Program. From March 21 to 28, 2026, a cardiac surgery mission was carried out at the National Heart Hospital in Lusaka, with the objective of providing life-saving interventions and strengthening local capacities through collaboration with healthcare professionals on site.

The mission involved an international medical team composed of specialists in cardiac surgery, anesthesiology, cardiology, intensive care, and perfusion, working closely with local hospital staff. Clinical activities took place from March 22 to March 28 and included both surgical procedures and diagnostic evaluations. Overall, 8 pediatric cardiac surgeries were performed, while 20 children were assessed through echocardiographic examinations in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Post-operative outcomes were generally positive, although one patient affected by a particularly complex condition died due to complications. This underlines the need to further strengthen intensive care management and improve the handling of high-risk cases.

The mission also represented an important opportunity for on-the-job training and collaboration. Strong cooperation was observed with local teams in cardiology, cardiac surgery, and perfusion, while critical gaps remain in anesthesiology and pediatric intensive care. More broadly, the limited autonomy of local staff highlights the need for a more structured and continuous capacity-building approach.

In parallel, meetings with local stakeholders allowed for discussions on future collaboration opportunities, including the expansion of screening activities and stronger coordination with other actors operating in the same context. The presence of multiple international missions further emphasized the importance of aligning clinical approaches, while supporting the development of locally owned protocols.

Despite existing challenges, the mission confirmed several strengths, including a well-equipped hospital infrastructure and good diagnostic capacity within the cardiology team. At the same time, key areas for improvement were identified, such as the lack of standardized protocols and the need to reinforce post-operative care systems.

Looking ahead, a revised model for future missions has been proposed, including longer mission duration, structured preparation and follow-up phases, and enhanced daily coordination with local teams. The next step will be the organization of a pediatric cardiology screening camp in November 2026, aimed at improving early diagnosis and expanding access to care.

The Lusaka mission reaffirmed the importance of combining direct clinical care with long-term capacity building, contributing to a more sustainable and accessible cardiac care system for children in Zambia.

Cardiovascular diseases remain a major cause of morbidity among children living in rural areas of Nepal, where access to specialized healthcare services is extremely limited. Geographic isolation, scarcity of trained personnel, and inadequate diagnostic infrastructure often prevent early identification of congenital and acquired heart diseases, exposing children to serious and potentially life-threatening complications.

Within this context, Mission Bambini continues its long-term commitment in Nepal through the Children's Heart Program. From November 24 to 30, 2025, Mission Bambini organized a cardiological screening mission in Bhanu Municipality, Tanahu District, in partnership with Save the Heart Nepal. The initiative aimed to improve early diagnosis of pediatric heart diseases and strengthen local referral pathways in rural and underserved communities.

The mission was carried out by an international medical team of three Italian volunteer doctors, supported by Mission Bambini staff, and working closely with a local healthcare team of 24 Nepalese professionals. This close collaboration ensured an efficient organization of activities and a high standard of clinical care, enabling the team to respond to a very high demand for cardiological evaluations in a limited timeframe.

Thanks to a structured screening approach and the availability of three echocardiography machines—including equipment provided and previously donated by Mission Bambini—thousands of children were evaluated. Overall, 3,247 patients received clinical examinations and cardiac auscultation, while 845 underwent echocardiographic assessments and 405 received an electrocardiogram. As a direct result of the mission, four children were identified as candidates for cardiac surgery and were taken into care by Save the Heart Nepal, with surgical interventions scheduled at the Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center in Kathmandu.

Beyond its immediate clinical impact, the mission contributed to strengthening local capacities. Three local healthcare professionals were directly involved in the screening activities and benefited from on-the-job training alongside the international team, reinforcing diagnostic skills and promoting sustainable knowledge transfer.

During the mission, Mission Bambini also engaged in discussions with local partners to explore future collaboration opportunities, including the potential expansion of screening activities to other remote areas characterized by a high prevalence of undiagnosed cardiac conditions.

Despite some challenges related to outdated diagnostic equipment and the limitations of auscultation-based pre-screening, the mission highlighted several strengths, including the strong organizational capacity of Save the Heart Nepal, effective logistics in a complex rural setting, and rapid clinical pathways with immediate feedback to patients and families.

The Tanahu screening mission confirmed the strategic importance of early diagnosis in reducing pediatric cardiovascular morbidity in rural Nepal. By combining direct healthcare delivery, capacity building, and strong partnerships, Mission Bambini continues to work toward a healthcare system where children’s access to life-saving care does not depend on where they are born.