A new hope for six children. The 8th mission of the NGO La Chaîne de l’Espoir in Madagascar, held from September 28 to October 2 at the Soavinandriana Hospital Center (Cenhosoa), successfully performed six interventions, including four open-heart surgeries. Fourteen members of the French NGO worked alongside 54 Malagasy professionals as part of a program aimed at strengthening local pediatric cardiac surgery capabilities.
In addition to the four open-heart operations, the mission included the implantation of a pacemaker and a procedure to treat a patent ductus arteriosus, a congenital heart defect. The interventions involved two Malagasy surgeons, two pediatric cardiologists, three anesthesiologist-intensivists, as well as nurses and other hospital staff. The collaboration between international and local teams focuses on both patient care and the transfer of skills to Malagasy professionals.
Active in Madagascar since 2018 and performing open-heart surgeries there since 2024, La Chaîne de l’Espoir conducts regular one-week medical missions on the island. According to Célia Noguera Acosta, the NGO’s mission head in Madagascar, nearly fifty children had already benefited from open-heart surgery under this program prior to this 8th mission.
The program also facilitates medical transfers abroad for children whose conditions exceed the current technical capabilities of Cenhosoa, particularly for patients under 15 kg or those with complex malformations. Partnerships with institutions in Reunion Island, France, Spain, and Switzerland support these cases.
The development of pediatric cardiac surgery addresses a critical need in Madagascar. According to Colonel Dr. Hariniaina Ravaoavy, head of the cardiovascular department at Cenhosoa, nearly 9,000 children could be born with congenital heart disease in the country each year, based on an estimated prevalence of one in every hundred newborns among the 900,000 births recorded in 2024. About one-third of these children may require immediate surgery, totaling nearly 3,000 cases annually.
Diagnosis remains a major challenge. To improve detection, La Chaîne de l’Espoir is conducting awareness campaigns in the Haute Matsiatra, Boeny, and Atsinanana regions, focusing on symptoms like respiratory distress or bluish discoloration of the lips and nails. The program ultimately aims to establish a sustainable care pathway, including diagnosis, surgery, and long-term follow-up, supported by the rehabilitation and equipment of the Cenhosoa intensive care unit.
Captured & Published at: 2026-10-04 11:39:03 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://2424.mg/sante-six-interventions-dont-quatre-chirurgies-a-coeur-ouverts-realisees-lors-de-la-8eme-mission-de-la-chaine-de-lespoir/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sante-six-interventions-dont-quatre-chirurgies-a-coeur-ouverts-realisees-lors-de-la-8eme-mission-de-la-chaine-de-lespoir