A MISSION TO SAVE YOUNG HEARTS

Namibia National Children Hearts Trust: Giving Hope, Saving Lives

Every child deserves the chance to run, laugh and grow without the burden of heart disease. Yet, in Namibia, hundreds of children are born each year with congenital heart defects that threaten their futures. The Namibia National Children’s Heart Trust (NNCHT) is changing that narrative – one heartbeat at a time.

With a mission to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to life-saving cardiac care, NNCHT works hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Health and Social Services. By securing financial support to supplement the government’s efforts, the trust brings critical medical services to Namibia, making advanced heart surgeries and interventions a reality for children who once had little hope.

ANSWERING THE CALL FOR URGENT CARE

More than 500 children are currently waiting for life-saving heart surgeries in Namibia. Even more require urgent transcatheter interventions. Without action, these children face a future filled with uncertainty. NNCHT is committed to giving them hope, ensuring timely and expert care that can transform their lives.

From the moment of diagnosis to post-surgical recovery, the trust’s work is fuelled by passion and determination. Every project, every partnership and every donation is a step closer to a Namibia where no child is left behind due to a lack of medical resources.

A TEAM WITH HEART

At the heart of this mission stands a team of visionary leaders, doctors and specialists dedicated to changing lives:

Chairperson: Dr Salomo Amadhila – A devoted paediatrician and advocate for accessible healthcare in Namibia.

Founder: Dr Fenny Shidhika – A passionate paediatric cardiologist with a vision to build a world-class paediatric cardiac care system in Namibia. Her unwavering commitment to children’s health is the heartbeat of the trust.

Deputy Chairperson: Ms Gida Nakazibwe-Sekandi – A respected leader in corporate affairs, lending her expertise to the trust’s governance and outreach efforts.

OTHER Trustees:

Dr Oliver Stumper – An internationally recognised paediatric cardiologist dedicated to mentoring Namibia’s next generation of heart specialists.
Ms Nelago Embula – Namibia’s first clinical cardiovascular perfusionist, committed to ensuring that every child receives the best care possible.
Mr Vaino Gulu – A chartered accountant with strong technical competence in accounting, managerial finance and taxation.

BUILDING A FUTURE FILLED WITH POSSIBILITIES

The trust’s vision is clear: to create a Namibia where every child with a heart condition receives the care they need, without delay or discrimination. Through partnerships, innovation and the generosity of donors, NNCHT is:

Raising awareness about congenital heart disease and its impact on children and families.
Strengthening Namibia’s medical infrastructure to provide more life-saving procedures.
Ensuring that world-class paediatric cardiac care is not a dream but a reality.

HOPE IN ACTION

NNCHT has lately been making incredible strides:

Acquiring new state-of-the-art medical equipment to enhance surgical outcomes.
Revamping the catheterisation lab to expand interventional cardiology services.
Hosting congenital heart surgery campaigns, providing life-saving operations to 200 children in collaboration with Healing Little Hearts and Windhoek Central Hospital.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

The Namibia National Children’s Heart Trust is a beacon of hope for children and families across the country. By supporting this initiative, you become part of an organisation where lives are changed, futures are brightened, and the sound of healthy heartbeats fills the air.

For more information or to support this mission, please visit namibiachildrenshearttrust.com or contact Dr Fenny Shidhika at fenny.shidhika@alumni.uct.ac.za.