The concept of a ‘mission’ has taken on new meaning to Gift of Life International. As we have evolved, the need to send expert teams of healthcare professionals for ‘visits’ to the countries we work with has become greater. There are three distinct types of ‘visits’ which Gift of Life International sponsors and coordinates.
This type of ‘visit’ is designed to identify children from a specific country that are in need of treatment for their heart disease. Screening teams evaluate and diagnose up to 100 children per week. Children who are identified as in need of treatment will then be placed on their National Pediatric Cardiac waiting list and ultimately treated throughout our Global Network on a priority basis.
Could provide regular exams following surgery
Could provide medicines needed to ensure a healthy recovery
Could provide 6 months of nutritional assistance prior to surgery
Could provide one year of nutritional assistance following surgery
Surgical and/or Catheterization ‘visits’ have become an essential method for Gift of Life International to provide care to children in our Countries of Focus who otherwise have no chance of treatment. Children on waiting lists in those countries will be treated in a systematic and strategic fashion. Our goal is to provide care to as many children as possible on these medical visits.
Training visits are essential to the development of our Core Programs. Through these training visits, we provide expert skills transfer to the local teams in Jamaica and Bolivia. Such visits enhance skills of the local team and empower doctors and nurses to care for children in their country of birth. Training teams are typically comprised of healthcare professionals representing each specialty of pediatric cardiac surgery. Visiting team members work side by side with local teams to provide mentorship. The frequency of training visits is mandated based upon the experience of the local team. Skills transfer during training visits has played an essential role in the sustainability of our Legacy Programs in Uganda, El Salvador and Romania.
