This Project is an extension of Help Mend a Broken Heart in Kenya, a 20-year Initiative of providing life-saving surgeries for over 1000 children with heart ailments in Kenya and neighboring countries. Cardiologists and surgeons from the United States and Europe voluntarily travel to Kenya 3 times per year to donate their time and professional skills to perform these operations. Children & Charity International collaborates with Care for A Child's Heart (CFACH) to support this worthy cause.
Congenital heart problems affect children worldwide and there is very limited intervention to prevent them. Acquired heart disease in children is largely rheumatic in origin and stems from complications of Rheumatic fever which has its origin in a "strep throat" infection. At least 3000 children are born in Kenya and other African regions with such conditions each year. A small number get interventional catheterization but about 2300 need to undergo heart surgery to correct the condition.
Every $2800 donation raised will bring one poor Kenyan or other African child with heart ailment to Care for a Child's Heart (CFACH) Family Center for screening, tests, and surgery by the US or European medical team, and follow-up care by CFACH. Surgeries are done at MP Shah and Tenwek Hospitals in Nairobi Kenya. We help at least 10 patients each year.
Our mission is to expand Care for a Child's Heart (CFACH) health care organization to set the standard for accessible and reliable heart surgeries for the poor and deserving children of Kenya, and other African regions. We are committed to a self-sustaining model to improve health care, education and the local economy in every community we serve.
