Since 2005, Children’s Heart Missions have brought pediatric cardiac care to countries where access to specialized treatment is limited.
Through cardiac screenings, lifesaving surgery and specialized training, our teams provide direct care to children while helping local health professionals and hospitals strengthen their ability to treat pediatric heart conditions over time.
Each mission combines three closely connected areas of work.
We provide cardiac screenings, pediatric heart surgery and post-operative follow-up directly in the countries where we work, helping children with congenital and acquired heart conditions access the care they need.
Our volunteer specialists work alongside local doctors and nurses in the operating room and through dedicated training programs.
The goal is to strengthen local expertise so that medical teams can become increasingly independent in diagnosing, treating and caring for children with heart conditions. This capacity-building approach is a central part of the Children’s Heart program.
We work with partner hospitals to strengthen clinical skills and operational capacity, while also supporting access to equipment, supplies and resources where needed.
By investing in both people and health care facilities, each mission is designed to create an impact that continues after our medical teams return home.
Children’s Heart Missions are coordinated directly by Mission Bambini, which defines the program’s strategy, countries and approach together with its medical partners.
The program’s Scientific Advisor is Dr. Stefano Marianeschi, Head of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at Niguarda Hospital in Milan.
Since 2005, more than 150 pediatric cardiac surgery professionals have volunteered in surgical and screening missions. They include specialists from leading hospitals in Italy and other countries.
Our partner hospitals in Italy include:
During every Children’s Heart Mission, another special companion joins our medical teams: the Courage Bear.
The teddy bear stays with children during some of the most difficult moments of their care journey — from medical examinations and waiting for a diagnosis to entering the operating room.
It cannot provide medical treatment, but it can offer something children also need: comfort, reassurance and a familiar presence when they may feel afraid or far from home.
