One Heart Gambia is a support group for children and young adults who have developed rheumatic heart disease or who have been born with abnormal hearts, and for those who have undergone heart surgery or might benefit from surgery.
Set up in in April 2016 by a group of young patients, volunteers and doctors at the MRC Unit Gambia, it was born out of a desire to help Gambian children and young adults who have had their childhoods destroyed by heart disease. Many have been unable to run, play football or even access education because they have been too short of breath to walk to school. For the young women, pregnancy and childbirth may jeopardise their health further with severe heart failure and even death.
The overall vision and mission of the group is to:
- provide emotional support and foster social interaction among children and young people with heart disease (including those who have undergone surgery)
- to provide educational opportunities through volunteer tutors, accessing small grants, free educational resources etc
- To provide health education about children’s heart diseases: to children, young adults and families attending the cardiac clinic; to the wider community through talks, drama, school visits
- To provide peer support for patients about to go for surgery by those who have already had surgery
- To act as advocates for the rights of children and young adults with heart disease and ensure that their rights are not infringed, especially in accessing appropriate healthcare and education
- To provide some Fun!
- Fund raising to support the work carried out by the group.
Please help us to work towards achieving our other mission goals by supporting us in our cycling event.
A small donation to the support group could make a huge difference to many young lives.
Thank You