The 19th medical-educational mission of the Med.Action Bambini con Elias ODV association, led by Professor Giovanni Stellin, at Orotta Hospital in Asmara (formerly Regina Elena), which took place from October 17th to 30th, concluded with an extraordinary result .
The director of the Treviso Cardiac Surgery Department has performed five complex mitral valve repair surgeries on adolescents with rheumatic heart disease, with excellent outcomes.
During the mission, the young Eritrean doctors, Dr. Beyene and Dr. Michael, actively participated in all operations, serving as primary surgeons in seven cases under the supervision of the Italian team. "They are our greatest hope," said Professor Stellin. "With their commitment, Eritrea will soon have an independent pediatric cardiac surgery center, the first in sub-Saharan Africa."
Training and local growth: the heart of the project
Med Action Bambini con Elias ODV was founded on May 25, 2023, in Treviso with the goal of reviving and completing the medical-educational program begun over two decades ago in Eritrea and, more recently, in Ethiopia. This program relies on the voluntary contributions of doctors, nurses, and technicians, as well as many ordinary people who work hard to improve the living conditions of children born in countries with limited resources. The international project includes a treatment program for children with heart disease, identified in collaboration with local health care providers. It also trains local medical, nursing, and technical staff to gradually become independent in the diagnosis and treatment of children with heart disease.
Institutional collaborations and future prospects
During the mission, a delegation from the Med.Action Bambini association met with the President of Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki, who expressed his full support for the medical-educational program and his willingness to promote its development as an integral part of the national public health strategy. At the same time, the groundwork was laid for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Padua School of Medicine (represented by Professor Angelo Dei Tos) and the Eritrean National Higher Education and Research Institutions (led by Dr. Haile Mehtsun), to strengthen educational and scientific collaboration between the two countries.
Expansion of the screening program
Another significant achievement was the launch of a project to extend pediatric cardiac screening beyond the capital, with an initial exploratory mission to Mendefera Hospital, which will serve approximately 80,000 residents. The goal is to train local pediatricians in the early detection of childhood heart disease.
A commitment that continues
"This mission," Professor Stellin concluded, "represents a milestone in our journey. We have demonstrated that with passion, expertise, and international collaboration, we can save lives and build a future. We will continue to work so that every Eritrean child with heart disease can receive adequate care in their own country."
(Author: Qdpnews.it editorial staff)
(Photo: Ulss 2 Marca trevigiana)
(Article owned by Dplay Srl)
Photos of patients waiting for their appointments
Dr. Minniti with a 12-year-old patient who underwent surgery in Eritrea
