ADDIS ABABA– An Israeli-based medical team, Save a Child’s heart (SACH) has so far conducted cardiac surgeries for 700 Ethiopian children.
This was disclosed recently when the medical team performed a week-long free cardiac surgery in Ethiopian Cardiac Center.
Approached by The Ethiopian Herald, SACH Executive Director Simon Fisher said that the team comprised of 30 Israeli heart surgeons and specialists conducted surgery for over 30 Ethiopian children during their week-long stay here.
As to the director, SACH is celebrating 25 years of activity in Ethiopia and the team has also been offering training for Ethiopian medical staff in pediatric cardio surgery in a view to enabling them conduct operations by themselves starting from this month.
In addition to conducting surgeries, the team provided medical equipment and other utilities estimated to worth 100,000 USD to the Cardiac Center.
“SACH has been working to help Ethiopia to fight cardiac disease through build capacity of the Cardiac Center in terms of skilled personnel and better equipment and we are desirous to extend our engagement here.”
According to the Executive Director, the coming of medical teams to Ethiopia to conduct surgeries have a paramount importance in helping the needy and facilitate knowledge transfer.
In related story, SACH held a reunion event in Addis Ababa last Saturday to celebrate the lives of more than 700 Ethiopian children saved from life-threatening heart conditions through active partnership of stakeholders in the medical sector.
The event, for the first time ever, brought together hundreds of past heart patients with the SACH medical team that carried out their lifesaving procedures.
Israeli Ambassador to Ethiopia, Raphael Morav, and senior Ethiopian government officials attended the reunion event.
Save a Child’s heart is international non-profit organization that works to improve the quality of pediatric cardiac care globally.
The Ethiopian Herald November 26/2019
BY BILAL DERSO
