Israel’s Cardiac Medical Mission Saves Children in Zambia
Sharing healing and compassion across borders.
Today, modern medicine can do things that were only dreamed about, like fixing hearts. But an Israeli humanitarian organization, Save a Child's Heart (SACH), makes this a reality for children across borders in countries where advanced medical care is limited.
A mission to the Zambian capital of Lusaka, in December 2024, treated 25 children who suffered from congenital heart defects, reported Israel21c. An international team of medical professionals from Israel’s Wolfson Medical Center – where SACH is located – , Tanzania, and Zambia spent four days performing life-saving open-heart surgeries and other cardiac procedures.
About the mission to Zambia
The team that included cardiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and ICU specialists was a groundbreaking collaboration between three hospitals, Wolfson, the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute, and Zambia's National Heart Hospital, where the surgeries were performed, according to a press release from SACH.
The effort was led by Dr. Godwin Godfrey Sharau of Tanzania and Dr. Mudaniso Kumani Ziwa of Zambia, who were both trained in Israel.
Dr. Lior Sasson who trained and mentored the doctors said in the press release “It is incredibly rewarding to see the doctors we trained in Israel now leading life-saving missions and building sustainable cardiac care programs in their home countries. The specialized training they received at Wolfson Medical Center has empowered them to perform complex heart surgeries and train others, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond Israel.”
The nonprofit has been working with Zambia’s Health Ministry since 2017 to strengthen pediatric care and has treated over 100 Zambian children.
In addition to the intricate heart surgeries, a specialized team also performed catheterizations, an advanced procedure that allows the repair of heart defects without the need for surgery. This safer approach allows for faster recovery times.
Witnessing the successful collaboration of these skilled professionals, who were once our trainees, fills me with pride and hope for the future of children with heart disease around the world,” Sasson said
About SACH’s mission
The mission of SACH – which was foundered three decades ago – is very simple, according to the organization’s website. It is to mend hearts regardless of religion, gender, nationality, or the inability to pay for the care. In fact, all care is given at no charge.
Through bringing children to Israel for urgent medical care and missions across borders, the organization is transforming pediatric cardiac care around the world. The first patients were two children from Ethiopia that were brought to Israel in 1996.
To date, SACH has helped over 5,000 children from 59 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America. Over 120 medical professionals were trained in Israel to do life-saving cardiac care in their home countries and SACH has held 30 teaching missions abroad.
Ofra Farhi, Israel's ambassador to Zambia spoke about the importance of the recent mission in the press release. He said, “This mission represents the best of international cooperation and humanitarian commitment. Israel's dedication to training medical professionals and sharing life-saving expertise underscores our deep belief in the power of partnerships to create a healthier, more compassionate world. We are proud to see this collaboration bring hope and healing to children and families in Zambia and beyond.”
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