Each year about 1.3 million children are born with congenital heart disease (CHD).[1]
One in four will die without immediate intervention[2] and many more will need childhood surgery to reach age 18. But 90% of the world’s children have no access to cardiac care.[3]
In many disadvantaged communities, untreated infections also can cause rheumatic heart disease (RHD).[3]
RHD is the most common children’s heart problem in many low-income countries. Worldwide there are an estimated 33 million people living with RHD.[4]
Both CHD and RHD patients need life-long special cardiac care to keep their hearts healthy. Even countries with excellent childhood heart care often struggle to care for these patients as they age.
We need your help to ensure that every person with childhood-onset heart disease gets the care they need to live a long and healthy life