Catheterization Laboratory
Rwanda’s first cath lab and Heart Center.
Catheterization Laboratory
Rwanda’s first cath lab and Heart Center.
We are serious about the Cardiac Care System in Rwanda.
Access to pediatric cardiovascular care in Sub-Saharan Africa is severely limited.
On a yearly basis, at least 150 Rwandan children are diagnosed with a CHD, but due to the lack of education and resources needed for proper and comprehensive diagnosis, there may be many other cases of children with CHDs that go undiagnosed and unreported. We are actively seeking dedicated partners to join us in a transformative mission to establish Rwanda’s first locally-rooted cardiac care facility.
In a nutshell...
$500 000 USD
Approx. $650 000 CAD
Vivo Cuore aims to fund the equipment for the catheterization laboratory (cath lab) within the Centre, with Siemens Healthineers supplying the necessary equipment.
A word from our founder
Founder of Fondation Vivo Cuore, Sandrine Murengerantwali
Photo: First Lady Jeanette Kagame Lays Foundation Stone for Heart Centre
Photo: Magdi Yacoub Rwanda-Egypt Heart Centre Phase 1
The Opportunity
Chain of Hope’s Rwanda Heart Center and Vivo Cuore’s Cath Lab
Chain of Hope UK: A seasoned leader
Chain of Hope UK (CoH) is a charitable organization that provides life-saving cardiac treatment and care to children from developing countries. Founded in 1995, they arrange for children with complex heart conditions to receive specialized treatment in the UK and also offer training programs to enhance healthcare capacity in the children’s home countries. CoH has successfully developed cardiac services around the world, establishing infrastructure in Ethiopia, Egypt, Jamaica, Uganda, El Salvador and Mozambique.
The Significant Need
The Vivo Cuore Cath Lab plays a vital role within the Heart Care Centre
Within the center, the cath lab is one of the most important rooms.It’s primary purpose is to execute interventional catheterization and will host most of the diagnostic procedures, medical training and research.
- 1. Treatment, Advanced Research & Diagnostics
- 2. Cath labs promote the highest standards of practice and efficiency
The Shared Goal
The tools required in a Cath Lab
Photo: Angiography systems - Siemens Healthineers
In a catheterization lab, a variety of specialized tools are essential for performing diagnostic and interventional procedures. These tools aid in guiding catheters, visualizing blood vessels, and ensuring precise treatment during procedures such as angiograms, stent placements, and other cardiovascular interventions. Below is a list of the necessary equipment that supports the effective and safe functioning of a cath lab.
- 1. Floor stand (incl. Mounting plate 45 kg)
- 2. Patient table (incl mounting plate 25 kg)
- 3. DCS-EAS 30" Display
- 4. Display with keyboard and mouse
- 5. MEDRAD Injector Pedestal
- 6. Axis smart image system
- 7. Generator POLYDOROS A100 Plus
- 8. Cooling unit
- 9. System control cabinet
- 10. Cable cabinet
The Promise
Long-term impacts of the Rwanda Heart Center
Growing numbers of surgeries
A host of long-term impacts are expected for the Rwanda Heart Center. First, the center is expected to perform at least 400 heart surgeries per year, for the first 5 years of operation. Beyond those first 5 years, the local teams are expected to perform an average of 2,000 surgeries per year.
Pledged training missions with partners
With 6 international training missions already pledged from renown international cardiology teams coming from the United States, Canada, Switzerland and the UK, the Rwandan local teams are exceptionally well equipped to build a cardiac system prompting the self-sufficiency and autonomy of the Rwandan pediatric cardiology system.
No child left behind
On a long-term basis, the Rwanda Heart Center is expected to become the first operative heart center within the Sub-Saharan Africa region able to welcome patients from neighbouring countries. In effect, the need for pediatric cardiology interventions is equally rampant in neighbouring countries.
Serving beyond a nation
On a long-term basis, the Rwanda Heart Center is expected to become the first operative heart center within the Sub-Saharan Africa region able to welcome patients from neighbouring countries. In effect, the need for pediatric cardiology interventions is equally rampant in neighbouring countries.
Towards Success
Key Performance Indicators & Metrics:
How will we measure success?
Number of surgeries
& catheterization interventions performed
Tracking sustainability of care
& level of autonomy of local teams
Success of training missions
& increase of human resources
Play a vital role in ushering sustainable cardiac care in Rwanda! Drive the future of cardiac care innovation in sub-Saharan Africa today.
Interested in a partnership?
Help us fund the cath lab.
Together, we can accomplish our ultimate mission: making comprehensive cardiac care accessible to all children who need it in Rwanda. Your partnership will save lives, shape futures, foster innovation and critical research, while creating lasting health for generations to come.