Heartfelt Success

.... Zambia’s Collaboration with Mission Bambini Saves Lives of Children with Heart Defects

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia24 – (28-03-2025) - The National Heart Hospital (NHH), in collaboration with its partner Mission Bambini (MB) from Italy, has successfully completed its third Cardiac Camp for 2025, marking a historic milestone as the first bilateral pediatric open-heart surgery camp in Zambia.

Dr. Chabwela Shumba, Senior Medical Superintendent at NHH, shared the success of the camp during a media briefing.

Held from Monday, May 24 to Friday, May 28, the camp saw seven children undergo life-saving surgeries, with an eighth surgery still in progress.

The surgeries focused on children with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), a congenital heart defect that causes insufficient blood flow to the lungs.

"This complex procedure involves four operations in one, providing a critical solution for young patients in need," Dr. Shumba explained.

He further emphasized the significant role of Mission Bambini in developing Zambia’s cardiac services, noting their long-term support through donations of essential medical supplies and equipment, including a heart-lung machine.

For this camp, Mission Bambini donated consumables valued at 8,000 Euros (approximately ZMW 250,000), contributing greatly to the success of the camp.

Dr. Shumba also highlighted the opportunity for NHH staff to gain specialized skills in cardiac anaesthesia, pediatric cardiac intensive care, and pediatric cardiology.

Three healthcare workers were able to receive this valuable training during the camp, strengthening Zambia's local capacity in pediatric heart care.

“Mission Bambini's continued support is vital to our progress in advancing pediatric cardiac care in Zambia,” Dr. Shumba noted, expressing gratitude for the collaboration. He underscored that partnerships like this are essential for the improvement of healthcare services in the country.

In addition to the lifesaving surgeries, the collaboration has provided hope to many families of "blue babies"—infants born with congenital heart defects that cause life-threatening oxygen deprivation.

The work of Dr. Stefano Marianeschi, a surgeon from Mission Bambini, has been instrumental in treating these infants, often referred to as "blue babies" due to their bluish skin caused by insufficient oxygen in their blood.

Dr. Marianeschi, who has led numerous surgeries since the partnership began in 2011, reflected on the progress made over the years.

"We started with many challenges, but the improvements have been significant. We are now seeing successful outcomes in many cases," he said.

The surgical techniques have advanced considerably, leading to a higher success rate in treating children with severe heart defects.

Local pediatric surgeon Dr. Madalitso Ziwa, who works closely with Dr. Marianeschi, emphasized the transformative impact of these surgeries.

"Seeing the hearts of these babies turn from blue to pink immediately after surgery is remarkable," she said, underscoring the importance of this life-saving work.

The success of the camp also serves as a crucial step toward improving Zambia’s ability to treat pediatric heart conditions, giving children previously thought to have no chance of survival a brighter future.

Dr. Marianeschi is optimistic about the potential to expand this collaboration, with plans to train more local doctors and continue providing essential surgeries to children in need.

Dr. Shumba, meanwhile, spoke about the broader efforts to strengthen Zambia’s cardiac care infrastructure.

He highlighted the development of specialized pediatric units and the expansion of training programs for healthcare professionals to ensure the country’s doctors are equipped to handle the unique needs of young patients.

"Children are not small adults," Dr. Shumba stressed, noting the importance of investing in specialized care and training for healthcare providers.

“We are investing in scholarships and training to ensure our healthcare professionals are equipped with the skills needed to care for children.”

This collaboration between Zambia and Mission Bambini represents a major leap forward in pediatric heart care, providing life-saving treatments and ensuring that more children have access to the specialized care they need.

Through continued partnership and investment in local capacity, the future of pediatric cardiac care in Zambia looks hopeful, with many more lives to be saved.