A developing country with a growing need for support
A population bustling with more than 166 million people, Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
Bangladesh has made great strides in growth and development and is on track to become a developing country in 2026.
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the second-leading cause of infant deaths in Bangladesh. More specialists in pediatric cardiac care are needed to provide care for children who are dying from preventable deaths.
The need: by the numbers
babies are born with congenital heart disease every year
cardiologists provide pediatric heart care in the entire country
In 2022, Bangladesh became the sixth country where we partner with local hospitals.
Children’s HeartLink is partnering with local hospitals to improve access to high-quality heart care for children with congenital heart disease.
National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute is the first Children’s HeartLink hospital partner in Bangladesh. Located in Dhaka, the country’s capital, they provide specialized care to about 2,000 children annually. The pediatric cardiac unit performs over 700 surgeries annually and is the national referral center for children with highly complex congenital heart disease. Every year, there are approximately 12,000 babies born in Bangladesh who need congenital heart surgery.
Our partnership with the National Heart Foundation team will support them in developing organizational capacity, multidisciplinary skills and clinical skills to better serve children.
Through Children’s HeartLink, the hospital is partnered with a medical volunteer team from Leeds Children’s Hospital in the U.K. This multi-year training and mentoring partnership will support the hospital in developing their pediatric cardiac program to treat and improve more children’s lives in the years ahead.
One of the goals is for the hospital to become a Children’s HeartLink Center of Excellence. Earning the Center of Excellence status means the hospital provides high-quality, complex care and can serve as a regional trainer for other pediatric cardiac specialists.
Our Partner Hospitals
National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute
2022
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