Syria
Since March 2011, Syria has been embroiled in an armed conflict resulting in a critical healthcare situation for its 18.000.000 inhabitants. Since 1993, Bambini Cardiopatici nel Mondo have carried out 34 missions h in an aim to treat the 3000 newborns needing cardiac treatment per year as either surgical or interventional procedures. Currently collaboration projects are treating 700 children per annum in a bid to assist the 2300 children per year who have no chance to be treated locally.
The new Damascus paediatric cardiac centre
GSD’s IRCCS Polyclinic San Donato Research Hospital and Bambini Cardiopatici nel Mondo set up projects in Syria that were carried out in collaboration with the University Cardiovascular Surgery Hospital, the Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Centre (located within the University hospital) and The Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The projects resulted in the construction of new medical centres such as the Damascus Paediatric Cardiac Centre as well as a series of annual surgical missions and educational and training programmes for medical and paramedical local personnel. A further educational programme was developed that can be carried out in situ during clinical activity or at the IRCCS Policlinico San Donato Research Hospital in Italy.
