Care and surgery
Training and skills transfer
Building and equipping hospitals
Prevention and screening
Emergencies and humanitarian crises
Maternal health
Democratic Republic of Congo: pediatric cardiac surgery relaunched
La Chaîne de l'Espoir, in partnership with La Chaîne de l'Espoir Belgique, CHIRPA ASBL and the DRC government, has relaunched pediatric cardiac surgery in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This ambitious program meets the urgent needs of children suffering from cardiac pathologies, while helping to strengthen the skills of local medical teams.
A promising first companion mission
From May 13 to 17, 2024, the Clinique Ngaliema’s pediatric surgery center in Kinshasa hosted its first companion surgical mission. The mission, led by Dr Paul Neuville, cardiac surgeon at the CHRU de Tours, enabled a volunteer medical team to volunteer medical team to perform surgery on four children. This marks a significant step forward for the center, which is equipped with a modern technical platform financed by the Congolese government.
As part of this program, La Chaîne de l’Espoir is planning to organize two missions a year to promote skills development of local teams. In addition, remote echocardiography sessions (Echoes®) are organized between cardiopediatricians from Clinique Ngaliema, Cliniques Universitaires de Kinshasa (CUK) and a medical expert from La Chaîne de l’Espoir. These long-distance exchanges strengthen the screening, diagnostic and referral skills of young patients.
An international partnership for lasting impact
This project is part of a close collaboration with La Chaîne de l’Espoir Belgique, present in the DRC since 2002, and the Congolese association CHIRPA ASBL. Together, they are working to guarantee access to care for children suffering from congenital or acquired heart defects.
Since its inauguration in 2016, the center has encountered obstacles linked to the Covid-19 pandemic and delays in implementing its programs. Thanks to CHIRPA ASBL’s advocacy, the Congolese government is now funding a structuring program designed to strengthen the center’s medical-surgical and technical capacities.
Concrete actions to sustain results
In addition to operating missions and distance training, La Chaîne de l’Espoir provides invaluable technical support. This includes the supply of materials and equipment necessary for cardiology consultations and surgery.
This initiative illustrates La Chaîne de l’Espoir’s commitment to saving lives while helping local healthcare systems achieve sustainable autonomy.
