Facts

In the Global South, congenital and acquired heart defects are surprisingly common. Whilst there are no epidemiological data available for Cameroon regarding the prevalence and management of heart disease, figures do exist from the screening programmes carried out by the Shisong Cardiac Centre.

In the Western world, most congenital heart defects are diagnosed before birth and can be treated surgically immediately after birth. These children are thus able to lead completely normal, healthy lives.

In the Global South, however, particularly in most African countries, only a very small proportion of the population has access to diagnosis, medical care and/or surgical treatment for congenital or acquired heart defects. The situation is particularly serious in rural areas, where access to basic medical care is already difficult.


The situation is made considerably more difficult by a number of other factors: 
Education:  More than 50% of the rural population has only completed primary school.
General health situation:  There is a high incidence of infectious diseases, rheumatic fever and tuberculosis, as well as illnesses caused by malnutrition, which in turn can lead to heart disease.  
Financial resources:  The majority of the rural population engages in subsistence farming, traditional crafts or small-scale trade. The proceeds from the sale of any surplus are never sufficient to cover healthcare costs.

Archbishop Paul Verzekov Foundation (APAVMEHEF):
In most African countries, including Cameroon, there is no public health insurance system. In 2010, a foundation was therefore established in Shisong-Kumbo with the aim of supporting underprivileged heart patients. Even though heart surgery, including pre- and post-operative care, costs five times less than in Europe, the grant that the foundation is currently able to provide is far from sufficient to cover the actual costs. Those affected do their utmost to contribute themselves and usually collect funds from their immediate and extended families. Nevertheless, according to CC statistics from 2012, 60% of patients who have been treated require full or partial financial support. The CC team prioritises patients awaiting surgery according to urgency. However, the ability to finance the treatment often poses a problem.

Heart of Cameroon Foundation (HCF): The Shisong Cardiac Centre and its foundation can only perform a limited number of operations each year – between 50 and 100. However, the need is much greater. To bridge this gap, at least in part, a group of Cameroonian doctors (cardiac and thoracic surgeons, internists and anaesthetists) founded the Heart-of-Cameroon Foundation (HCF). Essentially, this is the same team that also works with the CC-Shisong. The group performs heart operations at Yaoundé General Hospital. They are able to use the operating theatre and the intensive care unit, but must provide the consumables themselves. The patient pays only for the hospital bed – which is affordable. Etica Mundi MI-DO contributes by collecting donations for consumables.