Strengthening kiddies’ cardiac care
Since 2023, the Capricorn Foundation has been an instrumental supporter of the Namibia National Children’s Heart Trust (NNCHT) in its mission to improve Namibia’s paediatric cardiac care. Under its Health Focus Area, the foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to the NNCHT with a further donation of N$500 000, bringing its total contribution since 2023 to N$1.5 million.The NNCHT aims to reduce reliance on costly international referrals and to strengthen local treatment capabilities.
Established in 2022, the NNCHT has been at the forefront of addressing the challenges associated with congenital heart disease in Namibia. The trust supports the health ministry to ensure that children born with congenital or acquired heart disease receive affordable, accessible, equitable, timely, safe and sustainable care.
“The Capricorn Foundation commends the Namibia National Children’s Heart Trust for its efforts to enhance local paediatric cardiac care,” said Veripura Muukua, Head of the Capricorn Foundation. “We believe that our support and commitment help promote sustainable development and create a lasting impact. It remains our mission to assist our country in its journey towards self-reliance, and in this project’s case, to support and improve local treatment for congenital heart conditions.”
Dr Fenny Shidhika, founder of the NNCHT and paediatric cardiologist at Windhoek Central Hospital, thanked the foundation and the private sector for supporting the trust and the ministry in enhancing specialised cardiac services at Windhoek Central Hospital and its outpatient clinic, which serves patients nationwide.
“This donation will be used for the theatre, outpatient clinic, and the needs of the new paediatric intensive care unit established by the government. Corporates and their foundations, through CSI, play a vital role in the country’s collective health efforts. The government cannot fully meet the scale of this need alone, but through such partnerships, our combined efforts can significantly improve the health of society as a whole,” she said.