Pediatric Heart Disease Kills And Weakens The Growth And Future Performance Potential Of Millions Of Children

Main Category: Heart Disease
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 16 Jun 2007 - 1:00 PST

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The second global report of Pediatric Heart Disease has been published by Children's HeartLink. The report, entitled "Linked by a common purpose: Global efforts for improving pediatric heart health," discusses in depth factors influencing the difficulty of diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease outside of developed countries. It builds on the past investigation of the incidence and prevalence of congenital and acquired heart disease in children, but also highlights trends and issues in the attraction and retention of specially trained nurses and physicians into the pediatric heart health arena.

After looking at the difficulties that lie in widespread, effective treatment of children's heart disease, the report discusses potential strategies and solutions to improve health care in developing countries, as well as the Millennium Development Goals as set forth by the U.N. Millennium Summit.

Approximately one facility capable of open-heart surgery exists for every 120,000 people in America. Comparatively, there is only one center capable per 33 million people in Africa, and only one center per 16 million people in Asia. Congenital and acquired heart diseases affect millions of children around the world, but the majority of them will never receive the treatment they need. These children have no access to treatment, not only because of a lack of access to cardiac care, but also because of a general lack of socioeconomic development and health care investment in their countries.

"Pediatric heart disease kills and weakens the growth and future performance potential of millions of children. We hope that this report contributes to the knowledge and understanding of pediatric heart disease and the efforts to offer greater access to its prevention and treatment in underserved regions of the world," Joseph A. Dearani, M.D., Cardiac Surgeon, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, Editorial Advisory Committee Chair, Children's HeartLink Medical Director.

If you would like to learn more about the Global Report, or see it in its entirety, visit our website at Children's HeartLink

About Children's HeartLink

Children's HeartLink, founded in Minneapolis in 1969, is an international medical charity dedicated to the treatment and prevention of heart disease in needy children.

Children's HeartLink works in partnership with hospitals in developing countries to provide surgery, education and training for medical professionals, technical assistance, rheumatic fever prevention programs and donated equipment and supplies.

The goal of Children's HeartLink is to help improve existing cardiac programs in underdeveloped countries so that they are more empowered to care for children in their own region with consistent, quality and sustainable services. Children's HeartLink currently works with hospitals in Kenya, India, China, Costa Rica, Ukraine, Malaysia, Ecuador and South Africa.

http://www.childrensheartlink.org

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