WHAT WE DO / PROGRAMS
Heart Surgery
The Heart Surgery specialty addresses cardiovascular diseases ranging from congenital heart malformations in infants to a range of heart and great vessel conditions among patients of all ages.
The Challenge
Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) occur when the heart or adjoining blood vessels don’t develop normally before birth. CHDs affect nearly 1% of births per year globally. The highly-specialized facilities and multidisciplinary staffing needed to care for and treat infants and children with complex CHDs are only available at a handful of private hospitals in Bolivia. The cost is out of reach for most of the estimated 2,000 Bolivian children born each year with CHDs.
Additionally, Bolivia has the highest prevalence of Chagas disease in the world. The disease is caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite and is transmitted to humans through infected triatomine bugs known as "kissing bugs" or "vinchucas." Chagas disease can cause Chagasic Cardiomyopathy, a critical heart condition that often requires a pacemaker.
2,000
Bolivian children born each year with CHDs
600K+
Bolivians suffer from Chagas disease
75%
Of deaths from cardiovascular disease happen in low and middle-income countries
Our Work
Our Heart Surgery Program continuously evolves to meet the priorities identified by our Bolivian partners. The Program currently focuses on the following:
Treat Congenital Heart Defects
Treating children from across Bolivia born with congenital heart defects. Thanks to generous donations from the Goff Family Gift Fund and partnerships with kindred foundations and solidarity-minded hospitals and practitioners, we connect children to the care they need. We also support efforts to make more CHD treatment options available for children and adults at Bolivia’s public hospitals.
Supply Pacemakers
Providing donated pacemakers for low-income Bolivians. Most of our pacemaker patients have Chagasic Cardiomyopathy, a heart condition developed by those with Chagas disease (see above).
The Program also helps connect infants and children to surgical treatment for diverse needs.
Dive Deeper
A Heartfelt Thank You from our Youngest Patients
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The Double Engine
Good News and Great Joy
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