#GIVETHEBEAT

In the frame of the “Children’s Heart” Program, in the first three months of 2018 Mission Bambini organized two paediatric surgical missions: in Romania and Myanmar.

In January, 3 children between 1 and 6 years old were successfully operated at Spitalul Monza in Bucharest. They were all discharged home after clinical, cardiological and echocardiographic monitoring. In all patients the anatomical and surgical correction of pre-existing congenital heart disease was confirmed.

In March, the MB’s medical team composed by six professionals performed at the Yankin Children Hospital seven heart surgical procedures, in collaboration with the Burmese local team. Among the seven children born with congenital heart diseases that are now healthy, the youngest was only 4 months old.

Besides the surgical activities, the MB’s team gave lectures and lead a practical workshop to a group of 15 young surgeons and anaesthetists, aiming at enhancing the competences of the local professionals. In fact, MB developed a multidisciplinary curriculum of study in paediatric cardiac surgery, to be integrated in the University course of Medicine, in order to release a recognized academic certification to the students.

Moreover, 3 children from Albania will be operated at the Niguarda Hospital in Milan at the end of March.

In 2018, MB will realize heart surgical missions in Myanmar, Zambia, Cambodia, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Romania. In Zimbabwe we will guarantee also the follow up phase for the children operated in Italy. In Eritrea and Zambia we will focus our efforts also in preventing the valvular heart diseases.