By Okon Ekenyong

Every life matters every child matters, and that is the mindset of a dedicated group of individuals under the Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation North America (PCHFNA) chapters or umbrella who have come together with one goal in mind: to save the lives of approximately 14,000 plus children in Pakistan who are still waiting for life-saving surgery at Children’s Hospital Lahore.

But through their tireless efforts, this group aims to ensure that every child with Congenital Heart Defect has access to the necessary training and resources for a chance at a healthy life. On February 24th, 2023, the board of directors, including Chairman/President Doctor Ali Zaidi, Vice Chairman/Vice-President Qasim Khan, and Director Qaiser Bashir, collaborated with CEO Farhan Ahmed of PCHF to provide updates on the data for 2023 and to outline the goals for 2024. Additionally, they provided progress updates on the hospital’s construction.

The Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation North America (PCHFNA) is a non-profit organization that endeavors to ensure access to appropriate healthcare for patients born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) and related illnesses in Pakistan. The foundation’s board of directors includes well-known cardiologists, volunteers, and community leaders across the United States.

Congenital Heart Defects

These children are living with congenital heart defects (CHD), a condition that requires specialized medical care and surgery to correct. It is also a severe condition that affects thousands of children globally. In America, cardiologists specialize in treating this condition, ranging from simple to complex problems. According to Cardio Smart from the American College of Cardiology, there are over 35 known types of congenital heart disease.

Congenital heart defect is a problem that some babies are born with. It happens when the heart doesn’t grow properly before birth. This can cause issues with the heart valves, walls, or blood vessels. The symptoms of congenital heart defect can vary depending on how serious the problem is. Some signs include difficulty breathing, slow growth, and bluish skin. Treatment options include medicine, surgery, and a procedure called cardiac catheterization. It’s essential to diagnose and treat congenital heart in babies and young children because it can lead to serious health problems if left untreated. Regular check-ups and medical treatment can help ensure a child with this condition leads a healthy and active life.

2nd Annual Fundraiser Dinner

In Columbus, Imran Malik and Dr. Saif Rehman have committed to continuously supporting this project and being the local liaisons who will build the momentum of this ongoing journey of service and keep expanding the local team. They will be working on hosting future events and engagement opportunities in collaboration with PCHFNA’s mission and vision.

“Once the hospital becomes fully operational, we will be working on scheduling and arranging mission tours, service tours, and visiting tours shortly for families and individuals traveling from Ohio to Lahore-Pakistan,” said Imran Malik.

Dr. Rehman has already led mission tours and is working to develop a plan for such initiatives from our very own Columbus, Ohio!

“The unwavering support and generosity of the Columbus Community during our 2nd Annual PCHFNA fundraiser dinner event inspire us to continue on our journey of service and collaboration. Let us move ahead with steadfast optimism and momentum toward a brighter future”, Imran Malik said.

Imran Malik is an interfaith leader who works to bring people of all religions together. Through his faith and humanity effort, he’s proud to be part of the organization that helps put children first without recognition but only with the intent to build tomorrow’s future. He thanked the generous Columbus community for supporting the second annual PCHFNA fundraising dinner event. “It is a continuous journey of service and participation. We move forward slowly but with consistent optimism and momentum.”

“Attending the PCHFNA foundation event was a truly eye-opening experience for me. It was there that I learned about the staggering statistic that 1 in every 100 children is born with congenital heart defects. In countries like the United States, these babies are fortunate to have access to excellent medical care, resulting in a high survival rate”, said Deidre Hill of Columbus.

Lack of resources

In places like Pakistan, the need for more resources and healthcare infrastructure makes it difficult for these children to receive the care they need. The founder of PCHFNA, a man with no fame or fortune, turned his grief into a selfless act of helping others in need. It was a powerful reminder of the goodness and compassion that still exists in humanity, and it gave me hope for a better future.

And since the situation is dire in Pakistan, with one of the highest proportions of diet-related cardiovascular disease deaths and a high maternal mortality rate. The lack of access to quality healthcare facilities has made it difficult for children with CHD to receive the treatment they need.

Beginnings

Back in 2012, the CEO of PCFNA, Farhan Ahmed, lost his daughter due to CHD. She lived with them for three years, which was a challenging year. That was the foundation’s birth, but the initial operation started in 2016,” Ahmed said.

The founders of PCHFNA, in response to the lack of resources and healthcare infrastructure in Pakistan, established the foundation in 2016. Since then, the organization has been working tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of children affected by CHD. One of the critical missions of PCHFNA is to provide medical assistance to those in need and train future cardiologists in Pakistan to continue the work of providing care to children with CHD.

Medical Expenses

“Currently, we’re providing financial assistance to those unable to pay for medical procedures across Pakistan. Each surgery costs approximately 2,000 dollars. To date, we have supported over 3,900 surgeries and give much credit to the North American team for making such a miracle happen. Out of nearly four thousand, the NM team has supported 600 cases today,” said the board members.

Medical Missions

Medical missions are another way that the organization is providing aid in Pakistan. We deliver supplies to hospitals that offer surgeries and treatments to patients. Our mission is to provide families with as many resources and information as possible before and after surgery or treatment. We are working tirelessly to ensure that the best practices we see in the United States are also being implemented in Pakistan. Unfortunately, one out of every 100 children in Pakistan suffers from CHD, which means that approximately 60,000 babies are born with this condition. The country has only 15 pediatric surgeons who can perform such surgeries, which is a significant challenge.

Expected mothers/Pre-diagnosis

“In addition to taking care of the children, it is essential to screen pregnant women for congenital heart disease or Festus cardiology. This involves using ultrasound to examine the fetus inside the mother’s womb. We plan to include this screening as part of our initiative”. Festus Cardiology is limited in developing countries, not just Pakistan. Therefore, we are currently working to provide resources where we see the best fit.

New Hospital

Nationwide Children’s Hospital has four cardiac surgeons and approximately 500 CHD cardiologists, performing many cardiac surgeries yearly. Unfortunately, such a facility is not currently available in Pakistan. However, the new hospital built there can provide up to 2,000 surgeries and interventions annually if we follow the nationwide model and consider what we are doing. Although this is a significant number, more is needed to meet the country’s needs on a nationwide scale.

The organization’s 2021 report mentioned that they have funded 44 surgeries and contributed $85,000 towards treatments. The report also revealed that the organization has $10.85 million left to complete the construction of a hospital, estimated to cost $12.43 million.

“The hospital will be Pakistan’s first dedicated Congenital Heart Defect Hospital, which aims to address the issue of limited capacity caused by a shortage of surgeries and cardiologists. The lack of quality healthcare in the country and the difference in healthcare operations between the West and Pakistan are also factors to be considered,” said a member of the cardiologist team. There are approximately 241.1 million people in Pakistan, so a single CHD hospital will not suffice if 1 out of 100 children are born with the defect. The plan is to build more as time progresses.

Lack of Cardiac Surgeons and cardiologists

The country currently has only eight practicing pediatric cardiac surgeons and thirty cardiologists, which must be improved to cater to the growing demand for medical attention. As of Saturday, March 2nd, 2024, the country’s population is around 243 million, per the Nations Geo report. Providing such data is crucial as it highlights the need for more trained healthcare professionals and increased awareness about childhood diseases and illnesses.

And that’s why these groups of medical professionals spread across the United States with local chapters. However, a part of PCHFNA still aims to bridge the gap between cardiology training in Pakistan and the United States by training local doctors and establishing a world-class hospital in Pakistan. The state-of-the-art facilities will hence perform more than 2200 CHD surgeries daily, significantly reducing the number of children who suffer from this condition.

Future missions

“When we first had the vision, we had no land. But now, we have a seven-story building completed five years ago; it was just an empty plot. Our goal is to finish building the hospital next year. Once it becomes operational, it will be a state-of-the-art facility.”

Saving the lives of children with CHD in Pakistan and beyond is the reason why, partnering with volunteers and cardiologists from the US, the organization continues to work on providing life-saving treatment to those who need it the most and ensuring every child receives the care they deserve.

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