Tanzania Mega Heart Mission: Help Heal 35 Little Hearts

With a birth rate of 35.8 per 1,000 population in Tanzania (2022) and an incidence of congenital heart disease between 0.8% and 1.2%, it is estimated that more than 16,000 children are born annually with congenital heart disease.

Of these children, 40-50% will require intervention before the age of 18, and 20-25% will have critical neonatal heart defects that need treatment within the first 1-4 weeks of life to prevent death. Currently, less than 2% of these children receive heart surgeries on time.

Our goal is to substantially increase the number of heart surgeries for children performed over the next 5 to 10 years, improving the health and lives of children who are left without help every year.

I am Dr. Atul Prabhu, with 16 years of experience as a Pediatric Cardiologist. Over the past 5 years, I have successfully led a pediatric cardiac program at a high-volume philanthropic hospital in India, where I established a comprehensive pediatric cardiology unit.

I am a member of the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS) and the Pediatric Cardiac Society of India (PCSI), and I am an accredited teacher for DrNB Programs in Pediatric Cardiology in India. Additionally, I am the Founder and Director of Chiraayush Health and Research Foundation, an NGO dedicated to training and strengthening health systems and promoting health activities.

My passion lies in developing affordable pediatric cardiac units in developing countries, focusing on diagnosing and managing congenital heart diseases, both surgically and interventionally, as well as preventing acquired heart diseases, especially Rheumatic Heart Disease. I strive to provide turnkey solutions at the doorstep, reducing the need for travel.

I have a long-standing relationship with The One New Heart Tanzania, having worked with their founder years ago in various other hospitals in India. I have been supporting this organization in providing sustainable and affordable heart treatment for needy children in Tanzania, with plans to extend these services to adult patients as well.

Photos above show our free children's heart screening mission at Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania in March 2024.

Currently, we are running a Mega Heart Mission to address the significant shortfall in children's heart surgeries in Tanzania.

How it Works:

We are aiming to raise EURO 70,000 to facilitate heart surgeries for 35 needy children in Tanzania by December 2024. Your support can make a significant difference in their lives.

Please join us in this life-saving mission by donating and sharing our campaign. Together, we can bring hope and healing to these children and their families.

Thank you for your generosity.