By Ceeya Patton-Bolman, MSN | Director
Team Heart is planning our 2018 surgical trip to coincide with a meeting to include interested International Partners to coordinate care, equipment and supply delivery. All partners will commit resources, both human, and capital to improve the site to facilitate improved care. Team Heart is one of 5 teams who have provided in country services in the past, but only partners from Belgium and Team Heart currently remain committed. A highlight to coordinate education for the local team to increase skills and provide post-operative care has long been a primary goal and is close to realization.
A patient reunion, with heart healthy lunch introducing the plant Chaya, which is a green vegetable low in Vitamin K, important to those on lifelong blood thinners will be shared with all attendees. An education seminar to stress importance of check-ups and heart healthy tips will be held on February 9, 2019. This will be co-hosted by the Rwanda Cardiac Patient Network and King Faisal hospital on the outside grounds of the hospital.
Over the past few months, the local Team Heart office is promoting follow up communication to improve survival of patients having undergone surgery in the 2018 trip. Using SMS and algorithms, Team Heart will communicate using the language of choice to answer any questions, promote healthy lifestyles and identify barriers to receiving post-operative care. Messages can be received by the office to alert of lack of medication or treatment shortages at local centers.
In addition, the local team is recruiting volunteers to assist with the World Heart Day Events, September 29, 2018. The focus to engage individual to take charge of their own heart health and identify ways they can do so in partnership with the World Heart Federation.
Team Heart remains committed to improving the facilities where care is delivered in partership with the Rwanda Ministry of Health and efforts to engage other partners to move forward will be the topic for a seminar in Kigali.
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