Shuwana Hamdun was born in 2013. Her mother is from Kiberege Ifakara, a town in the Kilombero District, Morogoro Region, south-central Tanzania, located about 227 km driving distance from Morogoro Town.

She gave birth to Shuwana when she was in Mbeya at Meta Maternal Hospital. After returning home, when Shuwana was growing up, her mother noticed that her breathing was abnormal, especially when she was sleeping. Shuwana also had some eye problems at that time.

Her mother was told to bring Shuwana to CCBRT hospital for an eye diagnosis. At CCBRT hospital, she was diagnosed with eye problems that required a surgical procedure. After this procedure, her mother was advised to take Shuwana to Muhimbili Hospital for further consultation regarding her breathing difficulties. However, her mother did not go to Muhimbili Hospital at that time, even though Shuwana was still suffering from chest issues and severe breathing difficulties, along with frequent pneumonia.

When Shuwana reached 4 years of age, her condition became severe, and her mother was informed that she had severe lung issues. They were then supposed to attend the clinic every day, and fortunately, she was also checked for heart defects, with the results showing that she had a hole in her heart when she was 5 years old, heading towards 6.

Shuwana’s mother was then instructed to prepare almost TZS 800,000 and go to Muhimbili Hospital for advanced consultation. However, at that time, Shuwana’s mother was pregnant and unable to go to Muhimbili Hospital.

She then went to Ifakara Hospital and learned about the heart treatment mission by The One New Heart Tanzania at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Dodoma. She was instructed to go to Benjamin Mkapa Hospital on 5th July 2021, which she did.

Shuwana underwent surgery on Tuesday, 14th July 2021, at the age of 8, along with 3 other children.

It took almost 7 years from when Shuwana showed the early symptoms of congenital heart defects until she received the heart diagnosis and treatment.

At The One New Heart Tanzania, we put more effort into ensuring that early heart diagnosis is available to every Tanzanian child, leading to early treatment intervention and reduced mortality and morbidity rates due to congenital heart defects.