Pediatric cardiac services in Sudan: Achievements, challenges, and future perspectives (2004-2021)

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pediatrics
• Public Health

Background:

• Pediatric cardiology (PC) is crucial for managing congenital heart disease in children and adults.
• Developing PC services in resource-limited settings presents significant technical and financial hurdles.
• Sudan established a comprehensive PC program in 2004, including clinical care, diagnostics, interventions, and rheumatic heart disease control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the establishment and progress of the pediatric cardiology program in Sudan.
• To identify major challenges encountered in providing advanced cardiac care in a limited-resource setting.
• To explore potential solutions and future perspectives for PC programs in Sudan and other African nations.

Main Methods:

• The paper reviews the development of a national PC program initiated in 2004.
• It outlines the services offered, including clinical evaluations, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and cardiac surgery.
• Obstacles such as personnel shortages, limited facilities, and financial constraints are analyzed.

Main Results:

• Three public centers in Sudan now offer pediatric cardiac services.
• Key challenges include a shortage of trained personnel, inadequate operating rooms and intensive care facilities.
• The financial burden of interventional procedures remains a significant obstacle.

Conclusions:

• Despite challenges, Sudan has made progress in establishing pediatric cardiology services.
• Addressing shortages in trained staff and resources is critical for program sustainability.
• The Sudanese model offers insights for developing similar programs across Africa.