Restoration of Hope for Children in Zimbabwe with Heart Surgery

• In Zimbabwe, free surgeries for children with heart defects have been conducted.
• Doctors from Egypt and local surgeons have united their efforts for treatment.
• The country has reopened heart surgeries after a hiatus since 2018.

In the capital of Zimbabwe, Harare, 3-year-old Gracius Chikova received a chance at life thanks to free heart surgery. Doctors from Egypt, along with local surgeons, performed the operation, which has become a lifesaving solution for dozens of children suffering from congenital heart defects.

According to data, in Zimbabwe, only five cardiologists, including the first female heart surgeon in the country, Dr. Kudzyai Kanyepi, are available. She noted that surgical intervention is the only treatment option, as many children perish without necessary assistance.

The resumption of open-heart surgeries in the country began in 2023 after a break since 2018. During this time, local surgeons have already operated on 55 children, and another 19 received assistance during two surgical camps with Egyptian support.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA, approximately one in every 100 children is born with congenital heart defects. In Zimbabwe, nearly 4,500 children are born each year with heart defects, and many of them cannot afford the surgery.

Dr. Hesham Shafik, the head of the Egyptian team, stated that such camps are the only solution for many people in Africa who cannot afford private medical care. Parents of children who received assistance feel relief and gratitude for the opportunity to save their child's life.

Tags: Well-being