2013 Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) Activities Report

Monica,Neema & Elvin from Tanzania with Asia & Issa from Zanzibar and Laurentiu from Romania

2013 Achievments thus far:

140 children treated from 14 developing countries

220 children screened

24 medical personnel trained

100 volunteers helped out at the SACH Children's home and in the Wolfson Medical

Center

More than 3000 students and young professionals visitors

60 media stories in Israel and around the world

Children Treated

Thus far in 2013 SACH treated 140 children from Burundi, China, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana,

Iraq, Kenya, Moldova, Palestinian Authority, Romania, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania and Uganda.

Since 1996, SACH treated 3,222 children from 45 developing countries.

COUNTRY 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Total

1 Angola 10 25 17 18 16 86

2 Burkino Faso 1 1

3 Burundi 1 1 2

4 P.R. of China 2 2 1 1 2 3 1 12

P.R. of China 3 22 12 16 17 10 21 8 1 110

5

D.R. of Congo

6 7 7 2 1

23

6 Ecuador 1 1 2

7 El Salvador 1

1

8 Eritrea 3 3 1 1 1 9

9 Ethiopia 20 23 38 32 39 30 18 17 29 28 25 20 9 1 8 7 17 8 369

Ethiopia 24 2 26

10 Gambia 1 1

11 Ghana 1 2 6 3 3 5 4 24

12 Haiti 2 4 1 1 8

13 Indonesia 1 1

14 Iraq 4 8 5 26 37 24 23 27 24 11 189

Iraq 3 1 2 6

15 Ivory Coast 1 1

16 Jordan 1 1 1 1 1 5

17 Kazakhstan 1 1 2

18 Kenya 3 5 2 1 11

19 Kosovo 2 2

20 Liberia 1 1 2

21 Mauritania 4

4

22 Moldova 14 19 15 3 3 1 3 1 1 1 61

Moldova 8 7 15

23 Morocco 1 1

24 Nigeria 8 17 23 43 19 20 21 7 2 2 2 164

25

Palestinian Authority

14 16 25 48 47 49 54 63 71 147 155 136 109 108 147 154 180 94 1617

Palestinian Authority

1 4 4 3 2 1 1

16

26 Panama 2 2

27 Philippines 2 1 1 4

28 Rawanda 4 1 5

29 Romania 1 4 1 6 11 10 7 7 47

30 Russia 9 9 3 3 1 25

31

Rep. of Senegal

1 1

1

3

32 Sierra Leone 1 1

33 Somalia 1 1

34 Somaliland 1 1

35 Sri Lanka 8 8

36 St. Vincent 1 1

37 Sudan 1 1 2

38 Syria 2 2

39 Tanzania 4 4 5 12 3 28

Tanzania 4 12 16

40 Trinidad & Tobego

1

1

41 Uganda 1 1 3 1 2 1 9

42 Ukraine 1 1 2

43 Vietnam 2 1 3

44 Zanzibar 5 24 7 37 23 37 24 23 16 24 17 9 16 25 287

45 Zimbabwe 1 1

1 3

Total 48 58 90 128 175 150 176 163 183 226 238 225 218 206 245 259 298 136 3222

SACH Outreach Training Program

Thus far in 2013, SACH has trained 24

medical personnel at the Wolfson Medical

Center, as follows:

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery - Dr. Godwin

Godfrey from Tanzania, Dr. Ejigu

Yayehyirad Mekonnen from Ethiopia and

Dr. Adas Abed ElKarim and Dr. Ahmed

Zarour from the Palestinian Authority.

Pediatric Cardiology – Dr. Naizihijwa Joel

Mnong'one and Dr. Godfrey Baltazar

Mbawala from Tanzania and Dr. Khaled

Ibrahim Zurdi from the Palestinian Dr.

Authority.

Dr Godwin, Tanzania & Dr. Mekonnen, Ethiopia

Cardiac Anesthesia - Dr. Wafiq Othman, Dr. Akra Haitham, Dr. Mahmoud Kdimat, Dr.

Samir Nasralla and Dr. Natur Halel from the Palestinian Authority; Dr. Benard Kenemo from

Tanzania, Dr. Muhabat Solieva and Dr. Galiya Ibragimova from Uzbekistan and Dr. Lee

Kigera Ngugi from Kenya.

Standing: The Palestinian physicians in the SACH training program

Cardiology Clinics

The Free Weekly Clinic for Palestinian Children

Thus far in 2013, 255 Palestinian children from the West Bank and Gaza were screened

during the weekly cardiology clinics every Tuesday at the Wolfson Medical Center.

The children were referred to the SACH program on regular bases by a dozen cardiologists

from Gaza and the West Bank through the Palestinian Ministry of Health referral committee.

The children arriving at the cardiology clinic are examined for evaluation, prepared for

surgery and are followed-up post-surgery.

Ali and his mother, from Gaza, at the weekly clinic Parents and children at the clinic

This cardiology clinic is part of The Heart of the Matter Project that brings together

Palestinians and Israelis by providing cardiac care to Palestinian children and outreach

training programs for physicians from the Palestinian Authority.

Since 1995, more than 6,000 Palestinian children have been examined at the weekly

cardiology clinic.

Centers of Competence

Romania

SACH’s most significant advancement regarding relations with the

Romanian medical system came this past June. On June 7, 2013 under the

auspices of SACH, Rotary International Israel, and Rotary International

Romania & Republic of Moldova an agreement was signed between

Wolfson Medical Center and Grigore Alexandrescu Emergency Pediatric

Hospital establishing a partnership for specialized training in pediatric

cardiac surgery (please see attached agreement.)

After four years of seeking a medical partner in Romania we believe we have established one

under the leadership of Prof. Enesco and Dr. Cornea at Grigore Alexandrescu Hospital of

which is currently undergoing renovations estimated to finish by mid-2014. The recent

signing of the agreement between SACH, Wolfson Medical Center, and Grigore

Alexandrescu Hospital, has created the foundation for a long term relationship that ensures, in

due course, the trained Romanian doctors will return to perform surgeries on children with

cardiac malformations at the rebuilt pediatric hospital.

The signing of the agreement was

followed by a two days clinic at

the Santa Maria Children’s

Hospital in Iasi, in cooperation

with Dr. Magda Iorga. The clinic

was led by SACH doctors, Dr.

Akiva Tamir and Dr. Ilan Cohen.

36 children were screened during

the clinic and 18 wer determained

potential candidates to come to

israel for life saving heart surgery.

On July 14, 2013, training began

for one anesthesiologist and one

heart-lung technician from

Signing of the agreement in Romania, June 2013

Romania; the Pediatric Cardiologist and Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon are due by November

2013. (We are currently fundraising to allow the Romanian team to remain beyond the

planned six months.) We plan for the partnership to continue beyond the initial trainees,

helping train Romanian physicians in all fields related to cardiology and organizing exchange

programs for physician teams in pediatrics. We also have begun discussions to create a

trilateral partnership with an NGO in the United States which will expand the SACH/Rotary

International partnership and help many of the Romanian children born each year with cardiac

malformations.

With our presence in Romania growing, our goals by the second half of 2014 include

increasing the number of Romanian children to receive heart surgery; a joint SACH /

Romanian medical team conducting the initial heart surgeries at Grigore Alexandrescu

Hospital upon its opening, and continuing the training of additional Romanian doctors at

WMC. SACH will remain a provider of cardiac surgery for Romanian children as we

continue to build capacity in Romania, therefore allowing more children to receive treatment

for cardiac malformations.

Tanzania

Our current focus in Tanzania is on Mwanza in Tanzania. During the past 4 years SACH has

been working together with the Bugando Medical Centre, in Mwanza, Tanzania.

SACH has treated 47 children from Tanzania suffering from heart disease, 6 of them in 2013.

Currently there are 5 Tanzanian physicians and 4 nurses taking part in the SACH training

program.

The Training medical team from Tanzania with the directors of the Bugando Medical Center in Tanzania

during their visit in Israel, June 2013

The Director of the Bugando Medical Center, Prof. Majinge Charles Rukiko and the Director

of Cardiothoracic Surgery of the Bugando Medical Center, Prof. Mahalu Williams Rhys

visited Save a Child’s Heart in Israel on June 18 – June 23, 2013.

The two distinguished physicians met with the Director of

the Wolfson Medical Center, Dr. Yitzhak Berlovich and

toured the various departments of the hospital. They toured

the operating theatre and observed Dr. Godwin Godfrey,

who is in his fifth and final year of training with Save a

Child’s Heart, as he was operating alongside Save a Child’s

Heart lead surgeon Dr. Lior Sasson.

During their visit, the physicians met with the medical

personnel from the Bugando Medical Center currently

training at the WMC under the SACH Outreach Training

Program and directly observed their training: Dr.

Naizihijwa Joel Mnong'one and Dr. Godfrey Baltazar

Mbawala who are both training in Pediatrc Cardiology, Dr.

Benard Kenemo who is training in Anesthesia and the four

nurses who are training in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

and in the Operating Room. Prof. Majinge and Mahalu in the operating theatre

Professor Majinge and Professor

Mahalu visited the Save a Child’s

Heart Children’s Home and met with

the three children from Tanzania who

are recovering at the home after

undergoing life-saving heart surgery at

the Wolfson Medical Center. They

spoke with the children and mothers,

as well as with their accompanying

nurse from Tanzania.

Professor Majinge and Professor Mahalu in the children’s home

Other meetings of the visitors from Tanzania included a meeting with an Architecture Firm to

discuss the various options of constructing a new hospital in Tanzania, a tour with Yossi Ofer,

Director of Project Development at TAG International Development of TAG’s various

economic activities and a meeting with the Honorable Consul of Tanzania in Israel Kasbian

Chirich.

Throughout their five-day visit, the Directors from Tanzania were invited to meals and social

meetings of Save a Child’s Heart and Wolfson Medical Center management and staff and

during the weekend they joined two day-trips to Jerusalem and the Dead Sea and to Nazareth,

Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee.

This visit will assist in the facilitation of the planned surgical and teaching mission to

Mwanza in the fall of 2013 by Save a Child’s Heart, as well as the smooth operation of the

newly established pediatric cardiac center in Bugando upon Dr. Godwin’s return.

Ethiopia

Our current focus in Ethiopia is on Jimma. Ethiopia has only cardiologists and no pediatric

heart surgeons for entire population of over 40 million children under the age of 18. Most of

the physicians in Ethiopia have either left to practice medicine out of the country or are

working in governmental positions of public health, and therefore there are very few

practicing physicians.

In Jimma SACH works with Professor Abraham Haileamlak Mitike, a pediatrician from the

Jimma University Hospital who has trained for one year under the SACH training program in

pediatric cardiology at the WMC. The Jimma University Hospital is located in the city of

Jimma, Ethiopia and is a 200-bed hospital serving a population of 10 million. It is one of the

oldest medical schools in Ethiopia. The hospital has only one intensive care unit with 6 beds

serving both pediatric and adult cases.

Professor Mitike is in charge of constructing a new hospital which will include the first

pediatric cardiac center in Jimma.

The newly constructed center is planned to be fully equipped and enable the performance of

pediatric cardiac surgery. SACH is assisting this center and is training a full surgery team

including OR nurses, anesthesiologists, intensive care specialists, cardiologists and perfusion

specialists who will return to Jimma and be able to perform pediatric cardiac surgeries

independently.

Currently, there is one physician from

Jimma, Ethiopia who is in his first year

of training under the 5-year pediatric

cardiac surgery training program. Upon

his return to Ethiopia, Dr. Yayehyirad

will be the country’s first pediatric

heart surgeon. Dr. Yayehyirad’s initial

two years of training are sponsored by

Save a Child’s Heart, Foundation

Canada.

Dr. Yayehyirad Mekonnen at the Wolfson Hodpital

The Heart of the Matter Project

The Heart of the Matter Project brings together Palestinians and Israelis by providing cardiac

care to Palestinian children and outreach training programs for physicians from the

Palestinian Authority (PA).

Since the beginning of 2013, 100 Palestinian children from the West Bank and Gaza have

been treated by SACH at the Wolfson Medical Center and 255 Palestinian children have

been screened during the weekly cardiology clinics.

Since 1996 over 6000 Palestinian children were examined and over 1,600 Palestinian

children treated at the Wolfson Medical Center. SACH conducted five medical seminars and

conferences for hundreds Israeli and Palestinian physicians and eighteen Palestinian

physicians participated in the various SACH training programs.

Since 2005 SACH has received funding over four grant cycles from the European Union

Partnership for Peace Program. Since 2010 The Israeli Ministry for Regional Cooperation,

headed by Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom, has funded lifesaving heart surgery for

children from the Palestinian Authority, Iraq, Morocco and most recently Syria.

On February 13, 2012 SACH and the Palestinian Ministry of Health (PMOH) signed a

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recognizing the relationship between the two entities.

The MOU provides SACH activities with official Palestinian recognition, as well as co-

sponsorship by the PMOH for pediatric cardiac treatment. It clarifies both parties' interests in

advancing the facilities of the PA's hospitals and the skills and knowledge of its medical

professionals in providing cardiac medical care to children suffering from heart disease in the

most efficient and transparent manner.

The European Union Partnership for Peace Program and the Israeli Ministry for Regional

Cooperation and the Palestinian Ministry of Health have committed considerable support for

2013. SACH is also in final negotiations with USAID to receive funding for this program for

three years, starting in November 2013.

Construction of International Pediatric Cardiac Center

and Children’s Hospital at the WMC

SACH's long term goal is to establish a

worldwide center of competence in Israel,

with international recognition in the area of

pediatric cardiac treatment, training and

research that will serve as a model for

constructing centers of competence in other

developing countries.

The International Pediatric Cardiac Center

and Children’s Hospital will be a state of

the art, child oriented, medical facility

housing all infrastructure and equipment

necessary to perform up to 300 pediatric

heart surgeries per year and provide all

relevant pre and post-operative care. Upon completion, it will contain 1400 sqm (15,070

square feet) per floor on five floors and include a two floor atrium lobby.

Current facilities available to SACH at the Wolfson Medical Center (WMC) are

approximately 1,390 square meters (14,962 square feet). The existing facilities are

undedicated and spread throughout the hospital. Existing infrastructure and equipment are far

below the standard necessary for SACH to carry out its work to maximum effectiveness. The

Center would enable SACH to carry out its medical mission for at least the next 20 years and

in addition allow the WMC to far better serve its local catchment population. Currently, the

WMC does not have a dedicated pediatric center. Existing pediatric heart facilities, scattered

throughout the hospital, were only built to handle up to 150 pediatric heart surgeries per year

at maximum capacity. The current facilities are stretched to the limit from the more than 200

surgeries performed by SACH personnel each year. These conditions are possible due to the

expertise and dedication of its medical teams and other health care and support staff.

Given the existing internationally recognized expertise of the SACH medical staff in the field

of pediatric cardiac surgery and the unique international patient pool drawn from four

continents and 45 countries, this Center will become a world class internationally recognized

pediatric heart center providing lifesaving care to both Israeli children as well as children

from developing countries throughout the world. It is currently estimated that over 5.5 million

children from around the world need and cannot obtain corrective heart surgery.

The total cost of completing the construction and equipping of the Center is estimated at

$25.3 million. The first phase is estimated at $9.2 million and will include the ground floor

pediatric ICU and lobby; basement shell for the operating rooms; mechanical room, family

resting rooms and atrium entrance lobby on the first and second floors; as well as landscaping

for the overall Center, which would yield to the public eye a complete and fully functioning

facility.

SACH has done a number of fundraising initiatives for the capital campaign in order to

commence the planning and breaking-ground phase which will hopefully occur this

November.

העדכון האחרון מגידו:

בפגישה אחרונה שלנו היו חסרים ארבעה אישורים : איכות הסביבה , קק"ל , פיקוד העורף )שהתעכב בגלל אגף

. נים שניבנו ללא היתרשעת חירום של משרד הבריאות( מכתב של בית חולים וולפסון לגבי טיפול בהסדרת בניי

: כעט המצב כדלקמן

אישור איכות הסביבה התקבל

. אישור קק"ל , התקבל אישור עבור קבלת היתר . רישיון לעקירת עצים יטופל אחרי קבלת היתר בניה

עם אגף שעת חירום של משרד הבריאות סוכם על האישור , נשלחו באותו יום 21.8.13בפגישה שקיימנו ב

מעודכנותתכניות

.הבוקר דיברתי עם אדר' יהודה כנף , ממתינים לאישור בימים הקרובים

לאחר קבלת אישור אגף שעת חירום יעדכנו תכניות והיועץ מיגון שלנו ידאג לקבלה אישור סופי של פיקוד העורף

מכתב של בית החולים לגבי הסדר בניינים ללא היתר טרם התקבל

ץ היום לפגישה אצלו , אך לצערי הוא דחה את הפגישה . מחר יקבע מועד חדש הוזמנתי על ידי גדי דביבודי

.לפגישה

. לאחר מכן נוכל להגיש את כל האישורים לעירייה

בעירייה יעברו התכניות לחתימת ההיתר דרך חמש תחנות פנימיות שלהם

The Young Leadership Program

Achievements for 2013:

Hosted 3520 (88 groups) students and young professionals from from North America,

South America, South Africa, Australia, the UK, Italy, France, Sweden, Belgium, Norway,

Turkey, and Israel

Enjoyed the help of 90 volunteers at the SACH home and in the Wolfson Hospital

Worked with 13 medical interns from around the world

Organized 64 events were in Israel, Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia, exposing 40

additional individuals to the work of SACH in each event

Globally raised $109,906 in the annual Give Your Heart Out Valentine's Day Campaign

Established and/or maintained Young Professional Committees in New York, Los

Angeles, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Melbourne, and Toronto.

The SACH Young Leadership Program extends to students around the world and follows

them into their young professional years. From hosting group visits to organizing hundreds of

volunteers annually, the Save a Child's Heart Young Leadership program provides meaningful

experiences for individuals in Israel, and then empowers students and young professionals to

become effective advocates and ambassadors for the program in their home communities.

Past volunteers and visitors are supported to engage in social networking, event planning, and

networking, all in support of Save a Child's Heart and its life saving mission.

Jamie from the US and Marina from Australia SACH volunteer Sara from Belgium

SACH Young Leadership Director Randi Weiss during a group visit at the children’s home. In 2013 group visits included

Hillel, Amazing, Stand with Us, Canada Israel Experience, AUJS, CIC, Israel Experience, Aish HasTorah, Young Judea,

Rhodes Scholar Groups, Hasbara and more.

SACH YL Event in NY

SACH YL Event in Winepeg, Canada

The follow up project

The objective of the Follow Up project is to provide updated profiles on as many children as

possible out of the more than 3,200 children treated thus far and to serve as a marketing tool

to promote the activity of SACH. In the past 3 and a half years 580 follow up profiles were

created. The project was developed and implemented by SACH staff members who were

responsible to follow each one of these children and receive an updated report on the child’s

medical condition and social aspects of the child’s life.

Since the beginning of 2013 SACH created profiles for 70 children from Ethiopia, Iraq,

Nigeria, Palestinian Authority, Philippines, Romania, Tanzania, Uganda, Zanzibar and

Zimbabwe.

SACH collaborated with its partners in the children’s home country in order to receive the

required information. For example in February 2012, SACH travelled on a Medical mission to

Zanzibar. During this mission, children who were treated by Save a Child’s Heart came to the

hospital for medical and social follow up. In other cases the children were examined by the

local physicians and SACH received updated reports from them.

Another method of finding children or their relatives is through the Internet. The SACH team

members contacted the children and families through Facebook or via email.

Children from the Palestinian Authority were invited to the weekly free Palestinian cardiology

clinic held at the WMC. At this clinic, staff member Fatma Sarsour together with volunteers

interviewed all the children who came for the follow-up examinations.

David, Nigeria 2004 David, Nigeria, 2013

Nghi, Vietnam 2001

Nghi, Vietnam, 2012

Kawther Fara

Gaza

In 2000… In 2012…

On December 4th 2012, staff members, volunteers and doctors of SACH were at the Wolfson

Medical Center, anxiously waiting for Kawther Fara, whom none of us had seen since her

surgery 12 years ago. Everyone was curious to meet this 12 year old teenager who was last

here in 2000, when she was only 9 months old.

11:00am rolled around and the children from Gaza finally arrived to the weekly free

cardiology clinic for Palestinians, but at first there was no sign of Kawther! We were all

disappointed – so much waiting and we wouldn’t even meet her? Finally in walked Kawther,

a beautiful, fashionable pre-teen with a fantastic smile. She arrived with her father Hussain

and they were both very kind and open.

Kawther is now 12 years old, and dreams about becoming an Arabic teacher one day. She has

no symptoms of her previous heart disease and can run and play like any other child her age.

She studies at Al-Hayat Junior High School where she loves to spend time with her girlfriends

and she mostly enjoys her reading class. Kawther loves to read and feels it gives her a glimpse

of the world she wants to travel one day.

As most children her age, Kawther also loves to watch TV – her favorite channel is the Arabic

kids channel "Toyor Al-Janna" (Birds of Heaven). After school, and only after doing her

homework, Kawther’s mother Asmaa allows her to watch it while eating snacks – her favorite

food.

Kawther has a huge smile which she gives away easily, and she is very conscious of the fact

that she received a second chance at life, showing gratitude at every opportunity.

Since her surgery, Kawther never returned for follow up. Not only because she felt healthy

but mainly because of economic reasons.

Kawther is the fourth of six children – five girls and one boy! Her father supports the family

by owning and running a fruit and vegetable stand in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Almost two years

ago the family was struck with tragedy when a gas pipe in the house blew up, burning

Kawther’s father, mother and two of her sisters.

Kawther might need a valve replacement in the future and if so, SACH will welcome her with

open arms. This is a direct link to see the movie about Kawther which was done to the family of

SACH donor Felice Jaffe who passed away in August, 2012 –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRRtNUEZgE8&list=UUwk8FIFDpzlMyQQI5Mt

ZFpA&index=3

Social Media

The SACH Facebook page

During the first 6 months of 2013, SACH was very active on Social Media. Regarding

Facebook there was an average of 5 posts a week, and an average of 7000 people reached per

week. So far this year, there were 1200 new ‘likes’ and a lot of posts (pictures, movies,

events, etc…) posted by the 9 administrators of the page (staff and volunteers). As our

Facebook account is connected to our Tweeter account, every single post on Facebook also

goes on Tweeter as a ‘tweet’. Since the beginning of 2013, we’ve uploaded 14 videos on our

Youtube page.

The SACH Youtube page

SACH News and Events

January 2013

The Swiss Ambassador visits SACH– On January 13 2013, the Swiss Ambassador to Israel,

Mr. Andreas Baum, visited Save a Child's Heart at the Wolfson Medical Center and at the

children’s home in Holon. At the hospital, the Ambassador met the Director of the hospital

Dr. Yitzhak Berlovich, SACH Board Member Yehuda Brin and the dedicated medical team

who takes care of the charity's children voluntarily.

During his visit today Ambassador Baum said

it is very important for him to continue the

cooperation between SACH and the Swiss

embassy. "As a physician myself, and as

someone who knows this field, I am very much

interested in learning about the activity of

SACH and continuing the cooperation with the project".

February 2013

SACH representatives speak at the 6th World Congress for Paediatric Cardiology and

Cardiac Surgery – Between February 17th and 22nd 2013, SACH representatives from Israel,

the Palestinian Authority and Ethiopia attended the 6th World Congress in Paediatric

Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery hosted by the South African Heart Association in Cape

Town, South Africa.

The World Congress happens every 4 years and it

is the largest of its kind, with over 2000 health

professionals in the pediatric cardiology field

attending this year from all over the world. Its

program is very comprehensive and up to date.

During the congress, Dr. Sasson gave a talk about

SACH, Dr. Abraham spoke about rheumatic heart

disease, and Dr. Tamir presented a medical poster

detailing the ethics of screening and choosing

patients. In addition to participating in the conference

itself, our doctors also attended a meeting at the Samson

Center where Dr. Sasson gave again a speech about SACH to a the multicultural community

of Cape Town, and Dr. Othman gave an interview to a local Muslim radio network about

SACH.

Ambassador Baum toured the pediatric

departments and visited the free weekly

cardiology clinic for Palestinian children. The

ambassador spoke with the children and their

families and wished them good luck.

Ambassador Baum at the children’s home with the

children and their mothers.

Dr. Wafiq Othman, Dr. Lior Sasson, Dr.

Akiva Tamir and Dr. Abraham

SACH Young Leadership holds its first ‘

Bidders auctioned for rooms at the Rothschild 71 Hotel, dinners at the Thai House in Tel

Aviv, and a wine tour of Somek winery. All prizes were generously donated by these

businesses and all proceeds went towards the SACH Young Leadership "Give Your Heart

Out" campaign.

Shahar Hasson, Yossi Tarablus and Benji Lovitt, three renowned Israeli and American

comedians, hosted the event and performed for the audience. All three comedians were

equipped with hilarious one liners, personal anecdotes, and witty ways to interact with the

audience. None of them disappointed.

March 2012

Rotary International President visits SACH – On

March 13, Save a Child’s Heart was honored to

host Rotary International President Mr. Sakuji

Tanaka at the Wolfson Medical Center and at the

SACH children’s home.

During his visit, Mr. Tanaka met with the hospital

Director Dr. Berlovitz. Dr. Berlovitz welcomed

the president and thanked him for the wonderful

work of Rotary International and Rotary Israel and

for its close cooperation with Save a Child’s Heart

Mr. Tanaka toured the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the Pediatric wards at Wolfson and

met with children from Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Kenya, the Palestinian Authority, Romania and

Zanzibar who were all brought by SACH to Israel to undergo lifesaving heart surgery.

'Extravaganza of classics' concert in Cape

Town- An “Extravaganza of Classics” was a

Save a Child’s Heart benefit Concert which

took place on Wednesday 13 March at the

Hugo Lambrecht’s Music School, Auditorium

in Parow.

Yossi Reshef put on an amazing performance

and together with the supporting

performances the guests were treated to a

superb evening's entertainment.

Benji Lovitt, Yossi Tarablus and Shahar

Hasson at the event

Laugh Your Heart Out Event’ in Israel -

On February 4th, SACH Young Leadership Israel

held its first annual "Laugh Your Heart Out"

comedy show. The show took place at the ZOA

House in Tel Aviv, whose staff kindly donated the

space.

Over 110 people attended, making this a sold out

event. The night started at the bar of the ZOA

house where the guests mingled with some of the

SACH children and participated in a silent auction.

Mr. Tanaka at the children’s home

The evening began with a cocktail party and guests been entertained by a violin duet provided

by Rustenburg High School for Girls. This was followed by a wonderful speech about SACH

by Esta Levitas and the heart-warming story of Queen Esther (SACH patient) which didn't

leave a dry eye in the room.

April 2012

Minister Silvan Shalom visits Save a

Child’s Heart - On April 30, a group of

children from Iraq, arrived at the WMC in

order to undergo lifesaving open heart

surgery through Save a Child’s Heart.

The group was welcomed by Minister

SIlvan Shalom who stated that he will

continue to support the activities of Save a

Child’s Heart.

The children, ages 1, 3 and 6, arrived

accompanied by their mothers and were

received by representatives of the

Ministry for Regional Cooperation and members of Save a Child’s Heart.

39th annual Buenos Aires International Book Fair - On Thursday, April 25th, the 39th annual

Buenos Aires International Feria del Libro (Book Fair) was launched and lasted for 3 weeks.

This book fair is known as the most important annual literary event in the Spanish-speaking

world. Each year, more than one million visitors come to participate in it. The Israeli embassy

in Argentina has participated in the fair for a number of years now, building an Israeli stand

and hosting different activities. The stand is always very creative and focuses on different

aspects of Israel and Israeli culture. Save a Child’s Heart was one of the two organizations

featured at the stand alongside with Fundación Favaloro, which is one of the most prestigious

and famous organizations in Argentina dealing with heart surgeries and research. Postcards

and flyers including information about SACH were given to the visitors, bringing an

awareness of Save a Child’s Heart to Buenos Aires.

Visits to SACH - During the month of April, SACH was also visited by the Danish

Ambassador to Israel; the manager of the Italian National Football team, Prandelli Cesar; and

a delegation from Holland, which came to Israel through Keren Hayesod.

Minister Silvan Shalom at the Wolfson Medical Center

May 2012

SACH doctors save Syrian child- On May 13,

2013 our doctors performed lifesaving heart

surgery on a four year old Syrian girl. The child

was referred to SACH by an American

humanitarian organization operating in Jordan

and Israel. The girl was brought last week to

Israel from Jordan where she and her mother

were living as refugees of the current Syrian civil

war. Upon her arrival the girl was examined by

the SACH medical team and it was determined

that she would undergo open-heart surgery as soon as possible. The procedure was performed

at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon. Prior to this surgery, SACH had treated more than 3,000

children from 44 developing nations. On May 13, Syria became the 45th country.

New Executive Director for SACH Canada - During May 2013, Jay Brodbar joined SACH

Canada as its new Executive Director. Jay Brodbar moved to Canada from the Israel in 1988

to join the UJA Federation of Toronto where he rose to the role of Director of Research and

Assistant Director of the Community Planning and Allocations, with a focus on Jewish

Education and Culture. Prior to joining Save a Child’s Heart Canada, Jay was Executive

Director of New Israel Fund of Canada, enabling projects in Israel focusing on pluralism,

women’s empowerment and social and economic justice.

Delegation from Toronto visits SACH - On May

11, 2013 a delegation from Toronto led by

Karen and Stephen Diamond, took the time on

a Saturday and came specifically to see

firsthand the Wolfson Medical Center and the

Save a Child's Heart children's home. The

group was comprised by Fred and Linda Waks

and their family; Lisa and Phil Draper; and Lori

and Jeff Rosenthal. The younger generation

joining them, who are all involved in SACH

Young Leadership, personally met two of the

children saved by the Bowl Your Heart Out campaign. This was very exciting and fulfilling

for everyone.

Dr. Houri with the child from Syria ay the Wolfson Medical Center

The delegation at the Wolfson Medical Center

June 1012

SACH signs agreement in Romania - During

June 7-9, 2013, a screening clinic was held in

Romania. The clinic was in Iasi at the Santa

Maria Children’s Hospital in cooperation

with Dr. Magda Iorga and led by SACH

doctors, Dr. Akiva Tamir, Chief Pediatric

Cardiologist, WMC, and Dr. Ilan Cohen,

Deputy Director of Pediatric Intensive Care,

WMC. The doctors saw 36 children and

determined 18 potential candidates to come

to Israel for life-saving heart surgery.

SACH’s most significant advancement

regarding relations with the Romanian medical system came during this trip. On June 7, 2013

under the auspices of SACH, Rotary Club of Israel, and Rotary Club of Romania & Republic

of Moldova an agreement was signed between Wolfson Medical Center and Grigore

Alexandrescu Emergency Pediatric Hospital establishing a partnership for specialized training

in pediatric cardiac surgery

The Management of the Bugando Center visits

SACH - The Director of the Bugando Medical

Center, Prof. Majinge Charles Rukiko and the

Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery of the

Bugando Medical Center, Prof. Mahalu

Williams Rhys visited Save a Child’s Heart in

Israel on June 18 – June 23, 2013. The two

distinguished physicians met with the Director

of the Wolfson Medical Center, Dr. Yitzhak

Berlovich and toured the various departments

of the hospital. During their visit, the

physicians met with the medical personnel from

the Bugando Medical Center currently training at the WMC under the SACH Outreach

Training Program and directly observed their training. Professor Majinge and Professor

Mahalu visited the Save a Child’s Heart Children’s Home and met with the three children

from Tanzania who are recovering at the home after undergoing life-saving heart surgery at

the Wolfson Medical Center. This visit will assist in the facilitation of the planned surgical

and teaching mission to Mwanza in the fall of 2013 by Save a Child’s Heart, as well as the

smooth operation of the newly established pediatric cardiac center in Bugando upon Dr.

Godwin’s return.

Professor Majinge and Professor Mahalu in the children’s

home

July 2012

Conductor Omer Meir Welber embraces Save a

Child's Heart- Omer Meir Wellber, one of

Israel’s most talented young conductors, visited

Save a Child's Heart in July. Wellber visited the

Wolfson Medical Center and the children's

home. He met children and mothers from around

the world and spoke with the SACH medical

team and volunteers. The visit of Wellber at

Save a Child's Heart symbolizes the beginning of

a new friendship between Save a Child's Heart

and the conductor, who committed himself to

assist, promote and act as a Good Will Ambassador for the project.

SACH in the Media

Gal Gefen (local news Holon) - Africa-Israel (Hebrew) - July 2013

Rinunim - Director of Wolfson Medical Center hosts the Israeli ambassador to Belgium(Hebrew) - July 2013

Hashakma (Holon News) - From to Heart to Heart (Hebrew) - June 2013

Local Bat Yam - Cooperation between Israel and Africa in the field of pediatric heart surgery (Hebrew) - June 2013

Mr. Welber with Vivian from Uganda at the WMC

We Are For Israel - Why Israel is a Beacon Light - June 2013

Florida Jewish Journal - Local student volunteers while studying abroad - June 2013

Yahoo News Canada - Four-year-old Syrian girl gets life-saving surgery in Israel - May 2013

NBC News - Dying 4-year-old girl finds life-savers in land of the enemy - May 2013

El Mundo - Saving children's hearts (Spanish) - May 2013

The Jerusalem Post - SACH hopes Syria girl's Israel surgery inspires more - May, 2013

Semanario Hebreo - Salvando el corazón de los niños (Spanish) - May 2013

Israel 21c - Israeli doctors save Syrian girl’s life - May 2013

The Jewish Voice - Israeli Doctors Save Syrian Girl’s Life - May 2013

CNN - Taking heart amid Syria's carnage (video) - May 2013

Blog 'Así lo veo yo' - Save a Child's Heart (Spanish) - May 2013

Yediot Acharonot (Latest News) - Saving from the heart (Hebrew) - May 2013

CBN News - Israeli Doctors Save Syrian Toddler - May 2013

Ynet - Israeli doctors save Syrian girl's life - May 2013

Jordan News - Israeli Doctors Save Dying Syrian Child - May 2013

The Sacramento Bee - Israeli Doctors Save Dying Syrian Child - May 2013

The Jerusalem Post - Wolfson heart surgeons save Syrian girl - May 2013

Yedihot Holon (Holon Local News) - Minister Silvan Shalom visits Save a Child's Heart (Hebrew) - May 2013

Gal Gefen (local news Holon) - Prandelli Cesar, visits Save a Child’s Heart

Gal Gefen (local news Holon) - Minister Silvan Shalom visits Save a Child's Heart (Hebrew) - May 2013

Israel 21c - From Iraq to Israel, for life saving surgery - May 2013

'Hashikma' Bat Yam local Newspaper - Without Borders (Hebrew) - May 2013

Local Bat Yam - The Manager of the Italian National Football team, Prandelli Cesar, visits Save a Child’s Heart at the Wolfson Medical Center (Hebrew) - May 2013

Ynet - Minister Silvan Shalom visits Wolfson Medical Center (Hebrew) - May 2013

The Times of Israel - Saving Children’s Hearts in Israel - May 2013

Jerusalem Post - Save a Child’s Heart brings 3 Iraqi kids to Wolfson - May 2013

Israel National News - Channel 7 - Minister Silvan Shalom visits children from Iraq at the Wolfson Medical Center (Hebrew) - April 2013

UPI - Israel OKs entry of 3 Iraqi children for treatment in heart program - April 2013

CBN News - Israel Welcomes Iraqi Kids for Open Heart Surgery - April 2013

Ynet - Iraqi children to undergo heart surgery in Israel (Hebrew) - April 2013

Ynet - Iraqi children to undergo heart surgery in Israel (English) - April 2013

Rockford Register Star - My View: Happy 65th to Israel, a vibrant, diverse democracy - April 2013

Calabasas Patch - Couture For a Cause' Will Help 'Save a Child's Heart - April 2013

'Gal Gefen' Newspaper - Danish Ambassador visits Save a Child's Heart at the Wolfson Medical Center (Hebrew) - April 2013

Yedihot Holon (Holon Local News) - Dancing with full heart (Hebrew) - April 2013

Local Bat Yam - Danish Ambassador visits Save a Child's Heart (Hebrew) - April 2013

Israel National News - Channel 7 - 'Save a Child's Heart' Project Reaches Out to All Countries - April 2013

Ynet - Ambassador of Denmark visits Save a Child's Heart at the Wolfson Medical Center (Hebrew) - April 2013

Yedihot Holon (Holon Local News) - Assistance from the heart (Hebrew) - April 2013

Scooper - Ambassador of Denmark visits Save a Child's Heart at the Wolfson Medical Center (Hebrew) - April, 2013

Israel 21c - The top 65 ways Israel is saving our Planet - April 2013

Jerusalem Post - A lasting impact on the heart - March 2013

The Triangle - A capella group benefits cause - March 2013

The Jerusalem Post - Grapevine - Pushing the envelope - March 2013

Telavivi.net - Rotary International President visits Save a Child’s Heart at the Wolfson Medical Center (Hebrew) - March 2013

San Diego Jewish Journal - A Mitzvah-Making Machine - March 2013

The Gazette - Applause: Purim treats from the heart, for the heart - February 2013

Tufts Daily - Tufts University - Friends of Israel raises $1K for children’s charity - February 2013

5Towns Jewish Times - New York Girls Saving A Child's Heart - February 2013

Jpost - Stand-up performance from Israeli comics - January 2013

The Canadian Jewish News - Israel bike tour to help kids’ hearts - January 2013

JewishJournal - Save a Child’s Heart Shabbat - January 2013

Yedihot Holon (Holon Local News) - From heart to heart (Hebrew) - January 2013

Rinunim - The Ambassador of Switzerland visits Save a Child's Heart (Hebrew) - January 2013

Local Bat Yam - The Ambassador of Switzerland visits Save a Child's Heart (Hebrew) - January 2013