Congenital heart defects in LAC: Lessons learned and challenges on reducing the burden of disease

Congenital heart defects in LAC: Lessons learned and challenges on reducing the burden of disease
invitation

August 27, 2024 | – 11 am EDT

REGISTER

Among the main causes of neonatal mortality and those under 5 years of age, the second most frequent group of cases are congenital defects. More than 1 in 10 deaths in newborns and children under 5 years of age are due to congenital defects, and among them, congenital heart defects represent the most frequent group.

Congenital heart defects represent a challenge that highlights the need to implement actions from the perspective of comprehensive, responsive, resilient, and quality health systems and services. We have evidence about the relevance and potential impact of strategies such as prevention, screening, diagnosis, referral, care, rehabilitation, follow up, family support, etc. to reduce deaths due to congenital heart defects.

There are successful experiences in countries in the region aimed at responding to the important challenges that congenital heart diseases represent. Analyzing them, their challenges, weaknesses strengths, cost-effectiveness and lessons learned is required to systematize and contribute on scaling up and building capacity in this regard in the Region and globally.

PAHO and USAID’s MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership have collaborated to assess, consolidate, and analyze the evidence on results and cost-effective analysis of country experiences on addressing congenital heart defects to reduce the burden of the disease in the Americas.

Objectives

  • Present the burden of disease due to congenital heart defects in the Americas.
  • Present the results from a in depth analysis of the experiences and programs on screening and response to congenital heart defects in selected countries in the Americas.
  • Analize the challenges and perspectives for addressing congenital heart defects from the point of view of different stakeholders.

Agenda

Time

Content

Presenter

11:00 – 11:10

Welcome and opening remarks

James Fitzgerald

Director HSS

Pan American Health Organization

PAHO/WHO

 

Koki Agarwal

Director, MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership

11:10– 11:35

The burden of congenital heart defects in the Americas: rationale and results of lessons learned on screening and response in selected countries

 

Goldy Mazia

Senior Advisor Newborn Health

MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership

 

Martin Sabignoso

Consultant

MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership

11:35 – 11:55

Challenges and perspectives from policy makers point of view

Maria Eugenia Olivetti

Coordinator of the National Congenital Heart Disease Program. National Ministry of Health. Argentina

                                                       

Aline Hennemann

Technical Advisor. Ministry of Health. Brazil

11:55 – 12:10

Challenges and perspectives from families and communities

Tamara Currin, MS, MCHES

Director, State Government Affairs

March of Dimes (US)

12:10 – 12:20

Challenges from the lens of the international community and how to impact beyond the LAC region

Leah Greenspan

Senior Newborn Advisor

USAID

12:20 – 12:30

Closing Remarks

Pablo Duran

Regional Advisor in Perinatal Health

Pan-American Health Organization

 

Suzanne Serruya

Director CLAP/HSS

Pan American Health Organization

PAHO/WHO

Simultaneous interpretation will be available in Spanish, English and Portuguese

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