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A Gala dinner in honour of children born with Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) brought together a cross-section of society with the sole aim of reducing the massive backlog of children needing life- saving surgery. The evening was hosted by Heart Kids SA, an organisation committed to supporting families affected by CHD and supported by The Children’s Cardiac Foundation of Africa (TCCFA). One of the highlights of the Gala was an inspiring speech delivered by Charlotte Lombard, of Heart Kids SA, an organisation committed to supporting families affected by CHD.
Heart Kids SA is a registered non-profit organisation founded by parents of children diagnosed with CHD. With a vision to be a leading advocate and change agent in CHD awareness, Heart Kids SA has become a centre of solace for families navigating the challenging journey of congenital heart disease. They aim to educate the public about CHD, lobby for awareness and support, and provide practical, emotional, and financial assistance to needy families.
Lombard, the grandmother of a CHD “angel” and a key figure in Heart Kids SA, shared her personal journey and the organisation’s mission during her speech. She emphasised that CHD is the number one birth defect in the world, affecting 1 in 100 children. In KZN alone there are over 500 children on the waiting list for congenital heart surgery.
Yet, it remains a condition that is rarely spoken about, leading to a lack of understanding and support for affected families. While TCCFA focuses on the medical side of caring for children with CHD, Heart Kids SA extends its support to the families, especially the parents who often bear the emotional and financial strain. Lombard highlighted the importance of supporting parents, as they play a crucial role in making informed decisions for their child’s care.
Many parents find themselves overwhelmed and ill-equipped to navigate the complexities of CHD, and Heart Kids SA steps in to provide the education, resources, and emotional support they need. “Living with a child who has a heart condition can at times feel like a lonely road,” Lombard explained. “We ultimately want families to understand that they do not have to endure this challenging journey on their own.
” Lombard also shed light on the challenges faced by children with CHD and their families. Despite the fact that every child deserves equal access to medical care, the reality is that children without medical aid often face long waiting lists for life-saving surgeries. Limited resources, such as a shortage of surgeons, ICU beds, and nursing staff, further exacerbate the situation.
Heart Kids SA and TCCFA work tirelessly to raise awareness about CHD and advocate for better recognition and support from both public and private institutions. One of their key initiatives is hosting Awareness Walks during February, CHD Awareness Month, and in September, Heart Month. The TCCFA and Heart Kids SA aim to ensure that every child with CHD receives the medical care they deserve, regardless of their financial situation.
They aspire to expand their reach across South Africa and beyond, providing a lifeline of hope and support to families navigating the CHD journey. “Imagine if we could reach every family and child, and support them, direct them to resources, and walk their journey with them,” Lombard said. “Not only would we save the lives of children, but we would be able to extend a lifeline of hope to those who feel hopeless.
After all, children are our future.” Head of Social Impact at the Lenmed Group, Dr Morgan Mkhatshwa which hosts the TCCFA at the Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre in Durban, heaped praise on Heart Kids SA and the team at TCCFA who perform the life saving procedures. “There is no greater gift than the gift of life.
Knowing that these children will go on to live relatively normal lives and probably contribute positively to society brings me immense joy. “Children are most vulnerable and we need to protect them at any cost, sadly however, many South Africans are simply not in a position to afford the level of healthcare necessary, and organisations like Heart Kids SA and TCCFA offer some hope,” Mkhatshwa said. The gala came in the wake of TCCFA recently reaching a significant milestone - performing its 100 life-saving surgery since its inception in 2019.
Niresh Bechan, the CEO of Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre said they were proud to be associated with Heart Kids SA and the event not only shone the spotlight on CHD but highlighted the incredible work being done to support children and families affected by this condition. The surgery, that reached the milestone was performed on two young patients: 19-month-old Keziah Pillay and 15-month-old Nkanyezi Khanye - making a significant impact on the foundation’s mission to alleviate the burden of pediatric cardiac conditions in Africa. Bechan, added that working with organisations like Heart Kids SA was crucial for the foundation that has committed to reducing the backlog of children needing congenital heart surgery in not just in KwaZulu-Natal but South Africa and Africa as a whole.
He highlighted that TCCFA Centre is the only private facility in South Africa that has a 14-member team representing 10 pediatric sub-disciplines. “We are deeply committed to providing quality healthcare and addressing the critical needs of children with congenital heart disease and we really exclusively on the generousity of donors, “We urge businesses to collaborate with TCCFA in making a significant impact on these young lives,” Bechan said. IOL.
