A surgical strike in capacity building for the future of children's cardiology within East-Africa

A boy in school on the outskirts of the Kisumu region, western Kenya in 2017. Due to a heart defect that did not allow him to walk for longer than 10 minutes, his daily routine would take him 5 miles both ways just to reach school. This kid had no means of getting an education. He simply couldn’t reach it because of an inborn heart defect. In the picture, his condition has been fixed on our program performed in 2016. He visits school now.

It is unknown how many children are born in sub-Saharan Africa with cardiovascular defects every year. The estimate is over 3500. The latest study tackling this subject medically estimates similar number done in 2012 just in the Kenyan republic alone. Statistically by the numbers reported from healthcare providers worldwide, that number could be true. It is estimated that around 1% of the newborn population comes with an inborn defect requiring some sort of cardiology assistance. If we consider that number again and roughly estimate that around 10% of the children would not survive without complicated treatments. Counting that the defect was diagnosed, or observed, the child has a slight chance for recovery.

The situation worsens for any possible positive outcomes, as there is not enough resources and skill at the level of remote regions, whether providing basic general practice medicine. It is certain, that the information and data collected by the project ‘Heart for Kenya’ shines a light on the journey of such an unfortunate child. Where it happened and why.

It is also to mention at this point that most cases of children are coming from low-income, poor economies, and less educated backgrounds. Meaning several things at once;