Children's Heart- LIFE-SAVING CARDIAC SURGERY

Our commitment is improving the lives of children with congenital heart disease.

Heart defects are among the most common birth defects and represent one of the most important

children’s health problems in the world. Globally, it is estimated that one million children are born each

year with congenital heart malformation. If one does not intervene in the first years of life with surgical

correction 50% of them risk sudden death before adolescence. Out of 10 children born with congenital

heart disease, 8 are born in a country whose health system is inadequate and where pediatric

cardio surgery is non-existent or insufficient to guarantee quality care, free and essential for survival.

Since 2005, with the implementation of the “Children’s Heart” project, the organization Mission Bambini

(MB) and Mission Bambini Switzerland (MBS) are committed to provide free and quality care to children

worldwide with rheumatic and congenital diseases. “Children’s Heart” is the most complex and

multidimensional project among the intervention activities of MB and MBS in the field of child health, in

Italy and internationally. In 18 years of activity, the program operated and saved 2,635 children suffering

from serious illnesses and visited 24,120 children in 12 countries around the world.

The strategy is based on three pillars:

• Allow children with heart disease to receive treatment free heart that will save their lives.

• Help empower local partner hospitals to deal with children’s heart disease care issues (including

diagnosis, from surgical treatment to follow-up).

• Contribute to the prevention of heart disease secondary to rheumatic disease in children 5 years and

older, to avoid complications of the infection.

Challenges and Solutions

During the implementation of the “Heart of Children” project in Uganda, one of the main challenges

was the supply of medical supplies necessary for surgical procedures for pediatric low on age and weight.

Currently, the Heart Institute of Uganda relies primarily on the international missions of Mission Bambini to

the purchase of highly specific medical equipment and consumables. However, to meet

these challenges, MB and MBS with the Uganda Heart Institute are working together to

Achieving two key objectives in the coming year:

1. Establish a network of local suppliers to ensure national procurement, increasing the independence of the center from its partner in this area supply of medical supplies.
2. In case it would not be possible to obtain material locally, MB undertake to purchase the necessary medical devices on behalf of the Heart Institute of Uganda, ensuring that the purchase’s list is finalized two months before the international mission to ensure the choice of the most competitive material in terms of technology, price and quality. In addition, MB have built up a small internal stock of medical consumables on the basis of their long experience in this field, in order to guarantee a timely medical equipment and dynamically adapt to any need emerging from the lists of operations.

Impact and sustainability

To ensure the sustainability of its activities, Mission Bambini have launched a three-year ongoing training

for local medical staff, aimed at making the Cardiac Institute Uganda an autonomous center of excellence in

pediatric heart disease management.  By involving local Authorities and collaborating with International

organizations, the Foundation aims to maintain effective care over time. The MB approach is not limited to

the immediate care of children, but extends to the creation of a resilient structure capable of continuing to

serve the local community in a way that is independent and sustainable. In fact, a pediatric cardio surgeon

began her Master’s Degree in Italy at Niguarda Hospital which will last until May 2024.

Lessons learned and recommendations

The implementation of the” Children’s Heart” project in Uganda and Nepal in 2023 made it possible to

learn many valuable lessons. First, it was essential to adapt the objectives project to specific local needs,

recognizing the diversity of contexts health and resources available. In Uganda, for example, the program

has focused on the issue of autonomy in medical supplies, highlighting the need to develop networks of

local suppliers. In both contexts, the importance of continuous training and multidisciplinary collaboration

between staff international and local was confirmed as a crucial element to further develop for ensure the

long-term sustainability of initiatives. The goal is to provide training between two teams also outside the

specific time of the mission, by investing in ad hoc web tools and telemedicine programs.

Recommendations for the future include the implementation of concrete strategies to reduce dependence

on international missions for provision of medical supplies and implementation of on-site activities, as well

as strengthening the diagnostic and surgical capacity of local staff. In addition, it is suggested to continue to

work closely with health institutions local authorities to scale up intervention, expand partnerships and

actively involve communities in education and prevention.

Links:

• https://missionbambini.org/
• https://missionbambini.org/chi-siamo/