The Children's Cardiac Foundation of Africa

Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre recently hosted a tribute to internationally renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Prof Rob Kinsley at the Oyster Box Hotel, where The Children's Cardiac Foundation of Africa, a non-profit organisation which aims to provide assistance to children with cardiac condition who cannot afford medical care, was introduced.

This event was a celebration of the past and the future, marking Prof Kinsley's 50 years of performing open heart surgery and having done over 15000 surgeries.

This significant celebration honoured the Heart Guru Prof Rob Kinsley and presented the living legacy he has envisaged.

Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre Manager Niresh Bechan said, "Prof Rob Kinsley, has been performing cardiac surgery for as long as I have been alive. For me, it is most satisfying to part of a team that is giving life and to create the opportunity to save lives. For me, it is most satisfying to be able to part of a team that is giving life and to create the opportunity to save lives. It is an unexplainable feeling. It is humbling to have Prof Rob Kinsley on our paediatric team at Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre, the only private hospital in KZN offering Paediatric Cardiac Surgery in Kwazulu - Natal. This facility is unique with a multidisciplinary 14 member team representing 10 paediatric sub-disciplines, perhaps the only private facility in South Africa to have this many Peadiatric sub disciplines at one facility," said Bechan.

Prof Kinsley's was inspired by Dr Christaan Barnard who conducted the world's first human heart transplant at the Groote Schuur Hospital, in 1967, with Prof Kinsley's careers in cardiac surgery taking off in 1968. According to Prof Rob Kinsley, thousands of children in KZN born with congenital heart defects cannot afford private health care and were also unable to get the necessary treatment due to a serious skill shortage. "The plan is to start in KZN with Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre and then look at how we can help with cases across Africa," said Kinsley.

According to Chairman and CEO of Lenmed Group Prakash Devchand, there is a solution to the paediatric cardiac problem in Africa, which is The Children's Cardiac Foundation of Africa. "This foundation will provide training to doctors and support skills development of nurses. The need is a reality however much support is needed to sustain this vision. Lenmed, together with the team of the foundation want to ensure that we can touch and save more lives," said Devchand.

Devchand pledged one million rand to the foundation and encouraged all other corporates to spend their money where it matters most, with the children of our future and support The Children's Cardiac Foundation of Africa.

To support The Children's Cardiac Foundation of Africa contact nbechan@ehhc.co.za