Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
HARARE – THE second round of paediatric open-heart surgeries at Parirenyatwa Hospital is still underway, with more children successfully operated on since the camp began on Sunday.
Several Zimbabwean families are breathing a sigh of relief after their children received life-saving cardiac procedures, free of charge, at the country’s leading referral hospital.
Once only accessible abroad at prohibitively high costs, the operations are being conducted locally by a joint team of Zimbabwean and Egyptian specialists. The initiative has brought renewed hope to parents who had long feared for their children’s lives due to congenital heart conditions.
“As the theatre lights dim and another young heart begins to beat stronger, Zimbabwe’s vision for inclusive, accessible healthcare takes a historic leap, proving that with the right partnerships and political will, even the most fragile lives can be given a fighting chance,” a medical team member said.
“My child was diagnosed with a heart problem, ASD and VSD. One of her valves was smaller than the other, and it was not pumping oxygen properly. She also had a hole in her heart that was growing instead of closing. After multiple scans, doctors said the operation could only be done outside the country, and the cost was US$15 000.
“It was a very stressful time. We kept visiting the cardiac clinic regularly. Then, just recently in July, our doctor told us that a team of specialists was coming to Zimbabwe. I prayed my child would be chosen. When I got the call to come to the hospital, I could not believe it. After screening, they confirmed my daughter needed surgery.
“They explained the procedure to me, and at first, I was scared, but after talking to the doctors more, I felt reassured. Today, I am so grateful. My child is alive and will now be able to live a normal life like other children. I do not have the words to fully express my gratitude to the doctors. I never expected this miracle to happen, and I knew I would never have raised the money for surgery abroad. I am overwhelmed with joy,” a parent said.
“My daughter went for an operation yesterday, and she is already showing signs of improvement. I am really grateful to the governments of India and Zimbabwe for conducting these operations free of charge because, as a family, we had failed to raise the funds required for the operation,” another parent said.
Professor Hisham Shawky from Egypt and Dr. Simukayi Machawira, who heads the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at Parirenyatwa, confirmed that the surgeries, though complex, were successful.
“Paediatric cardiac surgery is a long-term program. During our first visit in November, we handled simpler cases. Now, eight months later, we are treating more complicated conditions in much younger patients,” Professor Shawky said.
“We have completed nine surgeries so far, and we are about to begin the 10th. All nine patients have been successfully executed. They are breathing on their own, talking, and communicating with staff and family. I’m happy to report that the outcomes have been very positive,” Dr. Simukayi Machawira said.
The Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Honourable Sleiman Kwidini praised the milestone as a turning point for Zimbabwe’s healthcare system.
“First and foremost, I want to appreciate and commend our local and Egyptian surgeons for what they are doing here in Zimbabwe. This is a major breakthrough for our healthcare system. Previously, we were not conducting these types of open-heart surgeries locally. Now, we have reached a milestone.
“All these major operations that we are witnessing are now being done in our own hospitals. We have spoken to mothers in the wards who said they had been quoted between US$15 000 and US$20 000 to take their children to India for surgery. Now, as we have seen, these procedures are being done here at no cost, and Zimbabwe is making progress.
“We started here at Parirenyatwa, but we expect to extend these services to other provinces and hospitals such as Mpilo and United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), where patients can access specialised treatment. Many of the children we are treating suffer from congenital heart defects and require this kind of care. Our goal is to make these services available to more families across Zimbabwe,” Deputy Minister Kwidini said.
Egyptian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Her Excellency Salwa Mowafi reaffirmed her country’s commitment to Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector.
“The Egyptian government is fully committed to helping countries across Africa, including our sister nation, Zimbabwe. We are pleased to understand the country’s medical needs and are ready to share our experiences and offer training. We brought with us a highly skilled team from Egypt, led by Professor Hisham Shawky, and we are ready to send more teams in the future to share expertise across various specialities. Egyptian medical supplies are already available in Zimbabwe’s public hospitals, and we will continue to support the people of Zimbabwe in transforming their lives,” she said.
The ongoing surgeries mark a major step forward for Zimbabwe’s health system.
As more children receive life-saving treatment, the focus now shifts to clearing the growing backlog of heart cases and decentralising services so that families across the country can access care without travelling to Harare.
