Every Heartbeat Counts: The Partnership Transforming Children’s Heart Surgery in Zambia

By Alain kabinda

LUSAKA– For parents of children born with serious heart conditions, every passing day can bring uncertainty, fear and the hope of finding treatment before it is too late.

For years, many Zambian families faced the difficult reality of limited access to specialised heart surgery, with some children requiring treatment outside the country. But a growing partnership between Zambia and international medical organisations is changing that story—one heartbeat at a time.

At the National Heart Hospital in Lusaka, a decade-long collaboration with Save a Child’s Heart (SACH)has become a symbol of what is possible when expertise, technology and compassion come together.

The partnership recently reached another milestone with the commissioning of a new Liva Nova S5 heart-lung machine, strengthening Zambia’s ability to perform complex paediatric cardiac surgeries locally.

The unveiling took place during a bilateral paediatric cardiac surgery mission, where children living with rheumatic heart disease received life-saving operations. Five children had already undergone successful procedures and were recovering in the Intensive Care Unit.

For these children and their families, the new equipment represents more than medical advancement—it represents renewed hope.

Over the past ten years, the partnership between the Ministry of Health, through the National Heart Hospital, and Save a Child’s Heart has evolved from providing treatment support to developing Zambia’s own specialised cardiac expertise.

Speaking during the launch at National Heart Hospital, Senior Medical Superintendent of the National Heart Hospital Dr. Chabwela Shumba described the collaboration as a model of strategic, compassionate and sustainable healthcare.

He said the partnership has focused on four key areas: training medical specialists, supporting children requiring treatment, transferring knowledge through surgical missions, and strengthening regional cooperation.

One of the greatest achievements has been the development of Zambia’s first generation of paediatric cardiac specialists.

Through the programme, Zambia has produced its first paediatric cardiac surgeon, paediatric cardiac intensivist, perfusionist and cardiac anaesthesiologist, all trained in Israel at no cost to the Zambian government.

Training of a second generation of specialists is already underway, ensuring that knowledge and expertise continue to grow within the country.

"This is not only about treating children today; it is about ensuring Zambia has the professionals and systems to continue providing this care tomorrow," Dr. Shumba said.

                                      (Heart-lung machine)

The new heart-lung machine, purchased at a cost of nearly US$200,000, was jointly financed by the National Heart Hospital, Save a Child’s Heart and the American Jewish Committee.

The hospital contributed half of the cost, while SACH and AJC provided the remaining support.

The machine is expected to significantly improve surgical capacity at the facility by allowing more complex procedures to be performed locally.

With the equipment now operational, the National Heart Hospital has a fully functional paediatric cardiac theatre and has already performed surgery on about 60 patients, including 30 children.

The hospital can now conduct two procedures simultaneously, helping reduce waiting times for patients in need of urgent care.

And Save a Child’s Heart has also donated additional medical equipment, including a GE Echo machine, ScaLan cardiac instrument set and cardiac consumables, bringing its total investment in Zambia to approximately US$3 million.

Meanwhile Israel Ambassador to Zambia Ofra Farhi said the partnership demonstrates the importance of long-term cooperation focused on sustainability.

She said the value of the programme goes beyond individual surgeries because it creates local expertise and ensures Zambian healthcare workers can continue using advanced technology independently.

"This is a long-term programme, it is a sustainable programme. It creates technology and learning how to use the machine here, and the long-term impact on the local team," Ambassador Farhi said.

She praised the cooperation between Zambia and Israel, as well as the support from Save a Child’s Heart and the American Jewish Committee.

"In Israel we say, whoever saves one life, it is as if he saved an entire world," she said.

For Save a Child’s Heart Executive Director Simon Fisher, the impact of the programme is being felt across the country.

He said children from different regions, including Zambezi, Nakonde, Eastern Province and Southern Province, have benefited from the partnership.

The programme, he explained, is helping identify children who need surgery while reducing the number of patients waiting for specialised treatment.

"It really fits the real name of our hospital, the National Heart Hospital. It is really helpful to reduce the load of patients waiting for surgery," Mr. Fisher said.

Through screening, surgical camps and mentorship, the partnership continues to expand access to care for children who may otherwise have limited options.

While heart surgery often highlights the work of surgeons, specialists say successful outcomes depend on a much larger team.

And speaking at the same event Consultant Paediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Hagi explained that cardiac surgery requires cooperation among doctors, nurses, anaesthetists, intensive care specialists, perfusionists and technical teams.

"It’s not just one doctor working," he said. "Heart surgery is a team game."

He said the growing confidence among Zambia’s medical teams shows the importance of continued training and collaboration.

The Ministry of Health says partnerships such as this are critical in building a stronger and more resilient health system where children can receive quality treatment closer to home.

For families who once faced uncertainty and long journeys in search of specialised care, the progress at the National Heart Hospital offers a new sense of possibility.

The new heart-lung machine is not simply a piece of medical equipment—it is a symbol of investment in Zambia’s future, a tool that empowers local doctors and a reminder that every child deserves the chance to live a healthy life.

As Zambia continues to strengthen its paediatric cardiac services, each successful operation represents more than a medical achievement.