Cardiac surgery requires a specialized team, including surgeons, cardiac anesthesiologists, and perfusionists — clinicians who operate heart-lung machines during open-heart surgery. Since 2023, EASI has supported cardiac surgical cases at Coast General Hospital by sending small teams to supplement local staff and conduct open-heart surgery camps. Dr. Iqbal Jaffer, a cardiac surgeon based in Hamilton, and Aman Sidhu, a clinical perfusionist from Vancouver, train local staff through on-site education, hands-on training, and direct support for complex cases. In 2025, EASI aims to support the training of one cardiac anesthesiologist and one perfusionist to further strengthen the program.
Cardiac surgery is one of the most complex and resource-intensive fields in medicine. Yet in East Africa, access to cardiac care remains painfully limited. EASI is stepping in to help fill this critical gap, one open-heart surgery at a time.
Since 2023, EASI has collaborated with Coast General Hospital to host cardiac surgery camps. These camps bring together small, specialized teams — surgeons, anesthesiologists, and perfusionists — to provide life-saving care. Just as importantly, they serve as training grounds for local clinicians, enabling them to build the skills needed to sustain a cardiac surgery program.
Looking ahead to 2025, EASI plans to support the advanced training of one cardiac anesthesiologist and one perfusionist, helping ensure the region has the expertise required for independent cardiac care. This initiative highlights the importance of teamwork, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to building sustainable healthcare solutions.
