Wolfson Medical Center

ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In the spirit of the Christmas season, a team of Israeli doctors recently completed a humanitarian mission to Zambia, bringing hope and healing to 25 children suffering from critical heart conditions. The medical mission, a testament to the true meaning of Christmas – compassion, generosity, and the gift of life – successfully performed life-saving heart surgeries on these young patients, offering them a brighter future. Continue Reading "Witnessing these children receive the gift of life during this joyous season is truly heartwarming," said Lior Sasson Post this Joint Israeli/African team performing lifesaving cardiac surgery on Zambian child "Witnessing these children, who faced imminent danger, receive the gift of life during this joyous season is truly heartwarming," said Dr. Lior Sasson, a heart surgeon and key member of the Israeli medical team. "This mission embodies the spirit of Christmas – giving back to those in need and spreading joy and hope." Save a Child's Heart (SACH), an Israeli-based international humanitarian organization, completed a life-saving mission in Lusaka, Zambia, last week. This mission brought together an international team of medical professionals from Israel, Tanzania, and Zambia to treat 25 children suffering from congenital heart defects. In a groundbreaking collaboration, doctors from Israel's Wolfson Medical Center (WMC), Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), and Zambia's National Heart Hospital (NHH) performed open heart surgery and catheterization procedures at NHH. Leading the effort were Dr. Godwin Godfrey Sharau of Tanzania and Dr. Mudaniso Kumani Ziwa of Zambia, both trained by Save a Child's Heart in Israel. They worked alongside Tanzanian and Zambian teams, many of whom have also undergone specialized training in Israel through Save a Child's Heart. Dr. Lior Sasson, Director of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at WMC, observed firsthand the collaboration of two generations of surgeons he trained in Israel over the past 15 years, as they worked together to save the lives of Zambian children. "It is incredibly rewarding to see the doctors we trained in Israel now leading life-saving missions and building sustainable cardiac care programs in their home countries," said Sasson. "The specialized training they received at Wolfson Medical Center has empowered them to perform complex heart surgeries and train others, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond Israel. Witnessing the successful collaboration of these skilled professionals, who were once our trainees and are now leaders in global pediatric cardiac care, fills me with pride and hope for the future of children with heart disease around the world." Since 2017, Save a Child's Heart has worked closely with Zambia's Ministry of Health to strengthen pediatric cardiac care. This partnership has resulted in the treatment of over 100 Zambian children and the training of medical professionals in advanced cardiac care techniques at Save a Child's Heart in Israel, as well as 10 nurses trained in Tanzania. As of 2024, Save a Child's Heart has sponsored medical teams to facilitate open heart surgery and catheterization procedures based on an international collaboration between Tanzania's JKCI, Italy's Congenital Heart Academy Italy, and Israel's WMC. Dr. Mudaniso Kumani Ziwa, a leader in Zambia's pediatric cardiac care efforts, expressed his pride in collaborating with the international team, "Thanks to the training and resources provided by Save a Child's Heart, particularly Dr. Sasson, and our cross-border, South to South collaboration, we are now equipped to deliver world-class care to children in Zambia. This mission signifies the start of a brighter future for countless families and the continued growth of our center of excellence toward achieving global standards." Dr. Godwin Godfrey Sharau, who established Tanzania's first successful pediatric cardiac program, expressed his commitment to expanding this success to Zambia, "Too many children in Africa suffer and die from treatable heart conditions. This mission brings hope by enabling us to save lives and share knowledge, ensuring that children in Zambia receive care closer to home. Our Tanzanian team from JKCI are proud to be part of this important mission and share the knowledge and skills gained over our own 10+ year journey in pediatric cardiac care." "This remarkable achievement underscores the power of international cooperation and the profound impact of medical expertise on the lives of children worldwide," noted Simon Fisher, Executive Director of Save a Child's Heart. "This Christmas, let us remember the spirit of giving and the importance of extending a helping hand to those in need. The Israeli medical mission to Zambia serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact that compassion and medical expertise can have on the lives of children around the world." About Save a Child's Heart Save a Child's Heart is an Israeli humanitarian organization, working internationally to save the lives of children from countries where access to pediatric cardiac care is limited or non-existent. Founded at the Wolfson Medical Center in 1995, Save a Child's Heart has saved the lives of more than 7,000 children from 71 countries and has brought over 150 local healthcare professionals to Israel for training so they can treat their own children independently and create centers of excellence in their home countries. In 2018 SACH became the only Israeli organization to receive the UN's Population Award in recognition of its role in transforming pediatric cardiac care in Africa. Its core value is Tikkun Olam - doing good to repair the world and believing that every child deserves the best medical care, regardless of race, religion, gender, nationality, or financial status. SOURCE Save Child’s Heart Foundation WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

HOLON, Israel and LUSAKA, Zambia, Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Save a Child's Heart (SACH), an Israeli-based international humanitarian organization, is conducting a life-saving mission in Lusaka, Zambia, from December 16 to 20, 2024. This mission brings together an international team of medical professionals from Israel, Tanzania, and Zambia to treat 25 children suffering from congenital heart defects. The team will be composed of cardiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, ICU specialists, technicians, and nurses. In a groundbreaking collaboration, doctors from Israel's Wolfson Medical Center (WMC), Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), and Zambia's National Heart Hospital (NHH) will perform open heart surgery and catheterization procedures at NHH. Continue Reading Israeli and Zambian doctors perform lifesaving heart surgery in Zambia Leading the effort are Dr. Godwin Godfrey Sharau of Tanzania and Dr. Mudaniso Kumani Ziwa of Zambia, both trained by Save a Child's Heart in Israel. They will work alongside Tanzanian and Zambian teams, many of whom have also undergone specialized training in Israel through Saved a Child's Heart. Dr. Lior Sasson, Director of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at WMC, will observe firsthand the collaboration of two generations of surgeons he trained in Israel over the past 15 years, as they work together to save the lives of 10 children in need. In addition to the open-heart surgeries, a specialized team will visit Zambia to perform catheterizations. These advanced procedures allow for the repair of heart defects in children without the need for open-heart surgery, providing a safer approach and faster recovery times. To support the success of these sophisticated interventions, Save a Child's Heart is donating essential medical supplies and a portable echocardiography machine, which will be utilized in both the operating room and catheterization lab. Since 2017, Save a Child's Heart has worked closely with Zambia's Ministry of Health to strengthen pediatric cardiac care. This partnership has resulted in the treatment of over 100 Zambian children and the training of medical professionals in advanced cardiac care techniques at Save a Child's Heart in Israel, as well as 10 nurses trained in Tanzania. As of 2024, Save a Child's Heart has sponsored medical teams to facilitate open heart surgery and catheterization procedures based on an international collaboration between Tanzania's JKCI, Italy's Congenital Heart Academy Italy, and Israel's WMC. Dr. Chabwela Shumba, Senior Medical Superintendent at Zambia's National Heart Hospital stated, "We are delighted to welcome an international team to the National Heart Hospital. The exchange of knowledge and expertise is invaluable, and we sincerely thank Save a Child's Heart Israel for their commitment to training both our team and the visiting professionals. We look forward to strengthening this collaboration and training many more professionals to benefit the heart health of Zambia, while our center becomes a focal point in the broader Sub-Saharan region." Dr. Mudaniso Kumani Ziwa, a leader in Zambia's pediatric cardiac care efforts, expressed his pride in collaborating with the international team, "Thanks to the training and resources provided by Save a Child's Heart, particularly Dr. Sasson, and our cross-border, South to South collaboration, we are now equipped to deliver world-class care to children in Zambia. This mission signifies the start of a brighter future for countless families and the continued growth of our center of excellence toward achieving global standards." Dr. Godwin Godfrey Sharau, who established Tanzania's first successful pediatric cardiac program, expressed his commitment to expanding this success to Zambia, "Too many children in Africa suffer and die from treatable heart conditions. This mission brings hope by enabling us to save lives and share knowledge, ensuring that children in Zambia receive care closer to home. Our Tanzanian team from JKCI are proud to be part of this important mission and share the knowledge and skills gained over our own 10+ year journey in pediatric cardiac care." Dr. Lior Sasson of Save a Child's Heart said, "It is incredibly rewarding to see the doctors we trained in Israel now leading life-saving missions and building sustainable cardiac care programs in their home countries. The specialized training they received at Wolfson Medical Center has empowered them to perform complex heart surgeries and train others, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond Israel. Witnessing the successful collaboration of these skilled professionals, who were once our trainees and are now leaders in global pediatric cardiac care, fills me with pride and hope for the future of children with heart disease around the world." Ambassador Ofra Farhi, Israel's Ambassador to Zambia stated, "This mission represents the best of international cooperation and humanitarian commitment. Israel's dedication to training medical professionals and sharing life-saving expertise underscores our deep belief in the power of partnerships to create a healthier, more compassionate world. We are proud to see this collaboration bring hope and healing to children and families in Zambia and beyond." About Save a Child's Heart Save a Child's Heart is an Israeli humanitarian organization, working internationally to save the lives of children from countries where access to pediatric cardiac care is limited or non-existent. Founded at the Wolfson Medical Center in 1995, Save a Child's Heart has saved the lives of more than 7,000 children from 70 countries and has brought over 150 local healthcare professionals to Israel for training so they can treat their own children independently and create centers of excellence in their home countries. In 2018 SACH became the only Israeli organization to receive the UN's Population Award in recognition of its role in transforming pediatric cardiac care in Africa. Its core value is Tikkun Olam - doing good to repair the world and believing that every child deserves the best medical care, regardless of race, religion, gender, nationality, or financial status. CONTACT: Farrah Fidler 972-52-8669449 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Save a Child's Heart WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

Save a Child's Heart, an international Israeli humanitarian organization, treated its 7,000th child in Israel, a 10-year-old boy from Kenya, while providing urgent medical care to casualties of tragic attacks in Israel. TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Save a Child's Heart (SACH), an Israeli humanitarian organization, marked a major milestone when it treated Kelvin, a 10-year-old from Kenya. Kelvin became Save a Child's Heart's 7,000th child saved by the volunteer Israeli doctors of SACH. Kelvin was referred to Save a Child's Heart by Kenyan Pediatric Cardiologist Dr. Ombaba Osano, who had previously trained with the Save a Child's Heart team in Israel. Continue Reading Kelvin with his mother, Martha Kelvin in Israel Dr Alona Raucher Sternfeld, Head of Pediatric Cardiology at Wolfson Medical Center said: "When Kelvin first arrived in Israel, the echocardiography showed that he had a big defect between the two main chambers of the heart. So, during surgery the hole was closed, and the valve was replaced with a mechanical valve. After surgery he also needed catheterization to enlarge the ascending aorta. He recovered very nicely, and we are happy with his condition". Save a Child's Heart brought Kelvin's mother, a Kenyan nurse, Kelvin, and 10 other children from Kenya to Israel to receive life-saving cardiac care. Kelvin underwent two life-saving procedures to treat his congenital heart defects on November 1, 2023, and December 18, 2023, at the Sylvan Adams Children's Hospital and the Ida Cabakoff International Pediatric Cardiac Center at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Israel. Kelvin said he was excited and proud to be the 7,000th child treated: "Being the 7,000th kid helped by Save a Child's Heart felt really good. I was not scared, and now my heart feels better, I'm happy they fixed it. I am excited to go back home to see my family and friends, and to go back to school. I want to study and become a doctor one day. The doctors and everyone were so nice!" Martha, Kelvin's mother said, "Save a Child's Heart gave my son, Kelvin, a second chance at a happy and healthy life. The care from the amazing team healed my son and filled our hearts with gratitude. Wishing everyone at Save a Child's Heart a long and happy life, continuing their important work to help more kids all over the world," she said. Even as Save a Child's Heart was treating Kelvin, it was also helping meet urgent medical needs during the war in Israel. Doctors at the SACH medical facilities were actively treating 10 recently released female hostages who had been abducted on October 7th and over 400 victims who were injured during the October 7th attacks and ongoing war. Kelvin's life was saved through the support of the German children's charity organization, BILD hilft e.V. "Ein Herz für Kinder." About Save a Child's Heart: Founded at the Wolfson Medical Center in 1995, Save a Child's Heart has saved the lives of 7,000 children from 70 countries. Fifty percent of the children are from Gaza and the West Bank, and SACH holds cardiology clinics for Palestinian children at its facilities in Holon. In 2018 SACH received the UN Population Award in recognition of its role in helping transform pediatric cardiac care in Africa. SACH is dedicated to improving pediatric cardiac care in developing countries around the world through surgery, medical missions, and education and has brought more than 150 local healthcare professionals to Israel for training so they can treat their own children independently and create centers of excellence in their home countries. Additional images can be found here: Media Contact: David Litwack 240.223.3940 [email protected] SOURCE Save a Child's Heart Foundation