Israel Medics Launch Heart Disease Screening for Children in Juba
By Kidega Livingstone
A team of Israeli cardiologists has launched a two-week medical campaign to screen children with heart conditions at El Shabbah Hospital in Juba.
The initiative, organized by Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) in collaboration with IsraAID and the Government of South Sudan, aims to identify children with heart complications who may require advanced surgery in Israel.
Israeli Ambassador to South Sudan, Gershon Kedar, said the program reflects Israel’s longstanding commitment to the people of South Sudan since the days of the SPLM/A.
“Israel is not only engaged in diplomacy but also in human development. Nothing makes us prouder than saving children’s lives through the work of our medical team and the Save a Child’s Heart Organization,” he said.
“I personally visited the hospital in Israel where these children undergo surgery, and I was deeply moved by the success of the operations,” he added.
Riki Rosenbaum, Deputy Executive Director of SACH, revealed that the organization has saved the lives of more than 700 children across Africa, including 78 South Sudanese children who have successfully undergone operations since the program began.
“All the children diagnosed with serious heart complications here will receive treatment in Israel free of charge, with no cost to their parents or the government. This directive comes directly from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Rosenbaum said.
The Executive Director of El Shabbah Hospital, Dr. Justine Bruno Tongun, said children with minor heart cases will be treated locally in Juba, while more complex cases will be referred to Israel.
“We have worked with the Israeli medical team for years, successfully sending children for surgery abroad. This time as well, several children in urgent need of operations will be taken to Israel,” he stated.
Acting Minister of Health for Central Equatoria State, Clement Marling Samuel, praised the initiative as a humanitarian milestone.
“This generous gesture reflects the true spirit of international cooperation and solidarity,” he said.
SACH, based at the Sylvan Adams Children’s Hospital within Israel’s Wolfson Medical Center, has carried out several missions in Juba. In one mission alone, doctors screened 74 children in just three days. This marks the third heart screening campaign at El Shabbah Hospital.
Track Record of Surgeries and Returns
December 2022: Four children—Habiba (6), Phillip (5), Joel (5), and Gai (8)—underwent life-saving surgery in Israel after being screened in 2019.
January 2024: Ten children traveled to Israel for surgery, including cases of complex congenital defects such as truncus type II and Tetralogy of Fallot. All returned safely by April 9, 2024.
Since July 2023: About 70 South Sudanese children have received treatment through SACH, according to official figures.
Overseas Treatment and Training
Children identified in South Sudan are usually taken in groups of 4–6 to Israel for free heart surgery, followed by post-operative care in a children’s recovery home, where they typically stay for three months.
In addition, Save a Child’s Heart is committed to training South Sudanese and regional doctors in pediatric cardiac care, helping to build local capacity to manage heart conditions in the future.
