A professional health body, Rescue Children Heart Foundation has ended this year’s congenital heart defects/ disease awareness week.
Speaking at the ceremony, the program committee chairperson, Lorpu Allakemenlee Flomo, underscored the need for the establishment of a cardiac surgery center in Liberia.
she stated that at the center when established, 50% of children with heart disease will need surgery at some time in their lives and 20% of these children will require surgery within the first months of life while another 40% will require surgery within the first year of life.
Madam Flomo told the gathering at the annual celebrations also that the need for early diagnosis and intervention as significant indicators of improved outcome and survivals cannot be over emphasized.
“These children have the potentials to live into adulthood like every other healthy child following surgery and no child with congenital heart disease should be discriminated against or be deprived the opportunity of a normal childhood life and hence early intervention is the best step,” she re-echoed.
The program committee chairperson giving an alarming data on the prevalence of heart disease in Liberia disclosed that eight out of every 1000 children are born with heart disease while 42,400 children are at risks of being born with heart disease as of 2022.
According to her 40% (16960) of these children will die if surgical or interventional cared are not initiated with the first year of life.
She indicated that this makes it very imperative for their continuous advocacy for increased investment in cardiac surgery around the world, including Liberia.
As part of the annual celebrations whilst in an emotional mood, each person in the audience lighted a candle in celebration of children living with heart disease and offered prayers for a permanent solution to the devastating health problem in Liberia.
At the same time, a symbolic light-off of candles was performed in remembrance of those children who lost their lives in the fight against congenital heart disease as tears were seen flowing down the eyes and cheeks of each speaker, including parents and doctors, as they make special remarks during the program.
The program committee chairperson then used the occasion to reaffirm the organization’s commitment aimed at finding a permanent solution to the problems of heart disease as the foundation continues to work towards the restoration of hope, dignity, and the rights of the child to affordable and equitable health-care services around the world.
At the well graced ceremony dominated by professional individuals in Liberia’s health sector, two staff of the JFK Medical Center, Dr. Sia Wata Camanor, Chief Medical Officer of the JFK and Lucynthia B. Nippy Chea supervisor of the Special Clinic were awarded the Janneh Varney ‘Broken Stars’ Service Awards for their services to children with congenital heart disease during the program.
Presenting the awards, the Program Directress of the Foundation, Kemeh Cecelia Flomo, thanked the recipients for their contributions towards the care of children living with heart disease in such a challenging environment.
Also making remarks on behalf of the honorees, the Chief Medical Officer of the John F Kennedy medical center, Dr. Camanor, appreciated the foundation for the recognition and pledge the facility commitment to working with the foundation in establishing a cardiac surgery center in the hospital.
She further explained that there are lots of children that are suffering from chronic diseases most especially congenital Heart defects which require specialize care and surgical attention.
Dr. Camanor pointed out that through the support of several organizations, few children got treated out of Liberia but many have been on the waiting list for more than six years now and there has been no added support to get them out of the country for treatment.
In separate remarks, the CEO of the Foundation Dr. Jonathan Minagogo Hart, acknowledged the interest expressed by members of the legislature and supports given by the ministry of health and the JFK Medical Center to enhance the efforts to establishing a cardiac surgery unit at the facility, this he stated would bring permanent solution to the age-old problem.
Dr. Hart at the same time pleaded with central government to increase investment in critical care in the country.
Meanwhile, Congenital heart disease as a disease affecting the structures in the heart and the valves with disabling consequences on the children.
Among other things, such heart disease is the leading cause of neonatal and infant death affecting 1 out of every 100 hundred children born globally.
Organized by Rescue Children Heart Foundation, the World Congenital Heart Defect/Disease Awareness Week is a Global event which begins from February 7-14 of every year.
The annual event is geared towards creating awareness and educating people about congenital heart defects (CHD), establishing the platform for investment in cardiac surgery and care for children and adults with heart defects.
The foundation’s whose vision and purpose are to establish continuous and sustainable cardiac surgery in Liberia on February 7, 2023 and in collaboration with JFK Medical Center celebrated world congenital heart defects awareness week with children living with heart disease and their families.
The program which was held at the John F Medical Center brought together children and their parents, physicians and surgeons, the hospital administration and support staff as well as other personalities with interest in cardiac surgery and care for children living with heart disease in Liberia.
