On-site education: support towards self-sustainability

The EurAsia Heart Foundation assists in Eastern European and Asian locations in the treatment of patients who either cannot afford medical treatment or who do not have access to it.

A five-year old girl presented with severe dyspnea caused by a large ventricular septal defect; due to the severity of the disease, she had lost all social contacts and integration. Therapy consisted in definite closure of the VSD:

      .operation time of approximately 90 minutes

      .definite surgical solution

      .no long-term medication

      .normal quality of life

      .complete social reintegration

Operations like this as well as many others are undertaken by medical doctors from the EurAsia Heart Foundation every year. In close collaboration with medical colleagues and institutions in the respective country, diagnostic and therapeutical measures are discussed and appropriate actions are taken.

In order to provide adequate medical care, many countries have to cooperate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

International support and sustainable local programmes together with technical assistance, transfer of knowledge and training are essential to save lives.
Every year, up to 12 million children and young adults in Eastern Europe and Asia contract rheumatic fever (a preventable illness) that can damage or even destroy the heart valves. Out of this group, 3 million subsequently suffer from chronic heart disease.

Millions of patients in these regions are on waiting lists for heart surgery and thousands of them are going to die before they get a chance for a heart operation.