François Hollande visits the André Festoc Center

After a brief introduction by hospital director Professor Diarra, President Hollande will give a short speech, before visiting the operating theatres and meeting the nursing staff.

History of La Chaîne de l’Espoir in Mali

Since 1994, the collaboration between La Chaîne de l’Espoir and Professor Diarra, Director of the Hôpital Mère-Enfant “Le Luxembourg” (HMEL) in Bamako, has made it possible to save nearly 500 children with heart disease by organizing their transfer to France, the only response to date.

In 2016, faced with growing needs in cardiopediatrics and in order to provide a technical response to medical evacuation, La Chaîne de l’Espoir decided to build and equip, thanks in particular to a private donation, a technical platform dedicated to pediatric cardiac surgery at HMEL, the pediatric reference center in Mali.

After a study phase and 15 months on site, the first open-heart operation in the “Le Luxembourg” Mother and Child Hospital was completed on schedule and on time on September 10, 2018. This first operation, carried out jointly by a Franco-Malian team, was made possible thanks to the mobilization of teams from all trades.

To guarantee the quality of surgical interventions, close support and training have been provided since the opening of the André Festoc Center by the continuous presence of volunteer staff, chosen from among the best French and European specialists.

A need: treating children with heart disease in Mali

In Mali, the second largest country in West Africa, cardiovascular disease is responsible for 11% of deaths, according to the WHO. Every year, 800 to 1,000 new paediatric cases are detected but not treated, due to a lack of dedicated medical facilities.

Project objectives

General objective

Expand the range of pediatric surgical services, particularly cardiac surgery, available to children in Mali, by maintaining structures that meet international standards and are equipped with a cardiopediatric service.

Specific objectives

1. Equip local healthcare teams with the equipment and skills they need to detect, diagnose and manage pediatric cardiac pathologies locally.
2. Provide access to a range of vital healthcare services for Malian children, including the most disadvantaged.

La Chaîne de l’Espoir is an international NGO founded in 1994 and present in nearly 30 countries. Its mission is to strengthen healthcare systems to give everyone, especially children, the same chances of survival and development.