The Heartbeat of Teso: A Story of Hope for Little Hearts
In the quiet villages of Eastern Uganda, a "sore throat" is often seen as a minor inconvenience. But for thousands of children in the Teso sub-region, it is the start of a silent, life-threatening clock.
The Silent Struggle
Imagine being a parent in Soroti, watching your child grow breathless and fatigued. You see their fingernails turn blue, and they no longer have the energy to play with friends or walk to school. In many of our communities, these signs are whispered about as "witchcraft" or chronic malnutrition. The truth is much more clinical, yet equally devastating: it is often a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) or Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD).
Currently, Soroti Regional Referral Hospital (SRRH) serves over 3.5 million people, yet it lacks the specialized tools—like an echocardiography machine—to look inside a child’s heart and find the problem.
The Gap Between Life and Loss
In 2024 alone, at least 14 children lost their lives at the hospital due to suspected heart failure—deaths that could have been prevented with early detection.
Right now, the only hope for these families is a long, expensive journey to the Uganda Heart Institute in Kampala. For a family struggling with financial insecurity, the cost of transport and accommodation is an impossible wall. Consequently, less than 30% of children referred for advanced care actually make it there.
You Can Be the Difference
The Little Hearts Project is our mission to bring life-saving cardiac care directly to Soroti. We aren't just building a ward; we are building a lifeline. Your support will help us:
✅ Renovate infrastructure to create child friendly cardiac care area
✅ Procure essential diagnostic & surgical equipment and furniture
✅ Procure essential cardiac supplies and medicine
✅ Train health workers (cardiologist & 2 nurses) in pediatric cardiac care
✅ Conduct community screening & awareness campaign
Where We Stand
The RI Global Grant Number: GG2683366 was approved for $80,625.
The commitment from The Rotary Foundation is $45,088.
The following is the commitment of $19,675 from D9213, Rotary & Rotaract Clubs:
💳 District Designated Fund (RID 9213) → $5,500
💳 Rotary Club of Kasangati → $5,250
💳 Rotary Club of Ngora → $3,150
💳 Rotary Club of Soroti → $2,100
💳 Rotary Club of Serere → $1,050
💳 Rotary Club of Mbale → $1,050
💳 Rotary Club of Busia → $1,050
💳 Rotaract Club of Soroti University → $525
This leaves the Rotary Club of Kampala with a fundraising goal of $15,862, where your generosity will play a huge role.
Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us buy another "tick" of the clock for a child in Eastern Uganda.
Join us in mending little hearts. Donate today.