4 out of 5 Children born with a hole kn the heart live up to their 3rd birth day either because they cannot afford to have a surgical repair or no rehabilitation facility to care for them after the surgery and help them thrive. We need to establish a centre to give these little ones a chance to live again.
THE NUMBER OF DEATH OCCURING IN CHILDREN BORN WITH "A HOLE IN THE HEART" KEEPS RISING IN A GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. MOST OF THE TIME THEY ARE REQUIRED TO EMBARK ON MEDICAL TOURISM TO THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE, ASIA AND MIDDLE EAST TO HAVE IT REPAIRED.
HIGH ALTITUDES INCREASE THE DEMAND OF OXYGEN ON THE HEART AND THIS NEGATIVELY IMPACTS ON THE PROGNOSIS AND SURVIVAL OUTCOMES FOR THESE SPECIAL AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN. THEREFORE, THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO HAVE CENTRES IN THE REGION TO MANAGE PRE AND POST -OPERATIVELY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
Statistics shows that these specialty centres have not only have team of the specialized experts (Cardiothoracic Nurses, physicians and cardiac physiotherapists) to manage the the patients but this will help increasetheir life expectancy and ability to thrive,reduce disability and dependency as they grow.
