For so many years, thousands of children living outside the metropolis and other large population towns in Egypt have been unable to be seen by cardiologists for diagnosis and help, due to the logistics and costs involved in travelling from these remote regions to tertiary health care centers. Over the past decade, steps have been taken to change the situation by means of “Missions” going to these outlying towns and villages. The concept being that doctors going to the patients rather than patients coming to the doctors.
During these missions large numbers of patients are clinically examined over a short period of time where qualified decisions are taken on the spot as to whether continuing medical treatment or adjustment of medications versus referral for intervention or surgery.
The goal is putting the patients on the right track and this can only be achieved by planning a proper schedule of management with follow up examination dates or intervention dates.
The system continued to gain momentum and success by the collaboration of paediatric cardiologists, echo-cardiographers, cardiac surgeons and charity social workers all working as one team.
These missions had made a great impact on the morbidity and mortality of CHD in our community. New boundaries are set, Links across the country are established, communications improved.
All the challenges, the preparations and the outcome will be presented.