KINGSTON, Jamaica — Chain of Hope is celebrating 30 years of transforming the lives of children with heart disease in Jamaica with a special anniversary medical mission to Bustamante Hospital for Children from June 8 to 15.

Led by paediatric cardiac surgeon Professor Victor Tsang, the volunteer team of surgeons, cardiologists, anaesthetists, intensive care specialists, nurses and perfusionists will perform life-saving open-heart surgery on eight to 10 Jamaican children with complex heart conditions.

The mission marks 30 years since Chain of Hope founder and President, Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub OM FRS, made Jamaica the first beneficiary country of the charity in 1996. What began as humanitarian medical missions has grown into one of the world’s most successful international paediatric cardiac partnerships.

Over the past 30 years, Chain of Hope and its partners have conducted more than 70 medical missions to Jamaica, helping hundreds of children with congenital and acquired heart disease while supporting the development of a sustainable paediatric cardiac service at Bustamante Hospital for Children.

A major milestone was the development of the dedicated Paediatric Cardiac Centre at Bustamante Hospital for Children.

Opened in 2017, the facility includes a cardiac operating theatre, a paediatric intensive care unit and a cardiac catheterisation laboratory, making it the first dedicated paediatric cardiac centre in the English-speaking Caribbean.

The centre was made possible through collaboration between Chain of Hope, Digicel, the Shaggy Make A Difference Foundation, Gift of Life International, Rotary International, the Ministry of Health and Wellness and National Health Fund and many many generous donors and organisations.

Since the opening of the dedicated cardiac centre, more than 405 cardiac procedures have been performed on children through Chain of Hope-supported missions and partnerships, giving hundreds of children a second chance at life. In addition one of the partners Cardiac Kids has conducted missions benefitting more children at the cardiac facility.

“Jamaica has held a special place in my heart since the 1960s, and it was only natural that it became the first country where we established an overseas programme after founding Chain of Hope in 1996. From our first mission, our aim was simple: to ensure that children born with heart disease had access to the life-saving care they needed,” said Professor Yacoub.

The Jamaica programme also holds a special place in the charity’s history because of the support of Diana, Princess of Wales, one of Chain of Hope’s earliest patrons. In 1997, Princess Diana had planned to accompany Professor Yacoub on a mission to Jamaica to meet children awaiting life-saving treatment before her tragic death. Her commitment helped bring international attention to children born with heart disease in developing countries.

Head of London’s Children’s Cardiac programme at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Professor Victor Tsang said:

“Every visit to Jamaica is special, but this anniversary mission is especially meaningful. We have seen remarkable progress over the last 30 years. The greatest legacy of this programme is not only the surgeries performed, but the expertise, confidence and capability built within Jamaica’s own cardiac team.”

Beyond surgery, one of the programme’s most significant achievements has been its investment in education and workforce development. Recognising that sustainable cardiac services depend on highly trained specialist nurses, Chain of Hope and the Bustamante Hospital for Children cardiac team have worked together to strengthen Jamaica’s cardiac nursing workforce.

In partnership with the University of Technology, Jamaica, Chain of Hope helped develop the country’s first dedicated cardiac nursing training programme. The accredited 13-week module combines face-to-face and remote teaching, practical training and clinical rotations for critical care nursing students, helping increase specialist cardiac nursing skills and address a national workforce shortage in this highly specialised area of healthcare.

Chief Executive of Chain of Hope,  Emma Scanlan said,

“It has been an enormous privilege for Chain of Hope to serve children and families in Jamaica for more than 30 years. Our volunteer teams have travelled thousands of miles alongside our partners, united by a single purpose: to ensure that children born with heart disease have access to the specialist care they need.”

As Chain of Hope celebrates three decades in Jamaica, the charity remains committed to supporting the continued growth and sustainability of the paediatric cardiac programme through specialist training, mentoring, equipment support and medical missions.

Together with its partners, Chain of Hope continues towards its goal that one day every child born with heart disease has access to the care they need, regardless of where they live.