Yemen's Miracle Heart Center Saves Young Lives

A multi-national medical camp in Taiz, Yemen, successfully treated 110 children for congenital heart defects between May 16 and May 21. The initiative, involving teams from Qatar, Europe, and Yemen, offered complex pediatric cardiac surgeries free of charge at the Cardiac and Vascular Diseases and Kidney Transplant Center.

This Taiz facility, established in July 2021, has emerged as a significant achievement in Yemen's medical sector. It has performed 1,450 open-heart surgeries, 164 kidney transplants, and recently initiated liver transplant programs, offering critical care at a fraction of international costs.

Patients previously faced exorbitant expenses and complications traveling abroad for procedures. The Taiz center provides comparable surgeries for approximately $5,000, with patients contributing only $2,000, thanks to benefactors. This significantly reduces the financial and logistical burden on Yemeni families.

Founded by Professor Abudar al-Ganadi, the center has grown from six beds to 131, including intensive care. Despite immense challenges stemming from the ongoing war, the facility's capacity has surged, enabling it to perform 500 operations monthly and become Yemen's leading center for open-heart surgeries.