Since 1987, dedicated volunteers who represent CardioStart International strive to assist struggling cardiac programs advance their efficiency and local community reach. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is currently the world’s #1 killer.

Attempts to gather data suggest that 17.3 million people died of CVD (2008) but up-to-date information is very difficult to obtain in the poorest communities who have little or no access to basic healthcare. Eighty percent of those obtained were from poor and middle-income countries.

Medical advances and significant declines in cardiovascular deaths have been demonstrated, but these are mostly accomplished in communities with advanced cardiovascular healthcare programs. a considerable The gap in access to cardiovascular healthcare between developed and undeveloped countries is widening. Although a large proportion of CVDs is preventable, the rise in morbidity and eventual death figures continue to rise especially in locations where preventive measures are inadequate or lacking.

In light of these alarming statistics, CardioStart and its worldwide volunteers conduct two-week missions in locations that are seeking advancement to the programs, and focused Outreach clinic care. In 2024/5, we have so assisted (by direct visits and /or medical equipment container donations) Afghanistan, Benin, Ecuador, Haiti, Ghana, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, The Dominican Republic, The Philippines, Ukraine, Uganda and Zambia. Vietnam. To date, CardioStart has completed 55 comprehensive missions in 27 countries. As part of each mission the visiting medical team collaborates with the local hospital’s staff toperform:

• Both non-interventional and interventional cardiac procedures and clinics;
• Advanced cardiac surgery, pacemaker implantations, and structured teaching of cardiac surgical techniques,
• ICU procedures and other patient care

The principal objectives are to empower the local team and help them advance their care, program through multiple visits, whenever possible. A primary objective is to teach the local team the most recent techniques and principles of cardiac healthcare, help them raise standards and operative skills to achieve better surgical outcomes and overall patient care long after CardioStart missions have ended.

In 2024-2025, CardioStart has already dispatched 19 40 ft shipping containers and 22 pallets by airfreight. Each have much-needed medical supplies and equipment to countries requesting help and most are where upcoming missions will take place. All supplies that CardioStart ships are donated from US hospitals.