After a two-week series of life-saving procedures, the 20th edition of the CAHAL Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Weeks has concluded successfully at the Academic Hospital Paramaribo (AZP) in Suriname. This landmark anniversary mission, held between June 29 and July 10, is a core component of a long-standing structural partnership between AZP and the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in the Netherlands.
During this mission, surgical teams successfully completed open-heart procedures on 11 patients: nine children (including one patient traveling from neighboring Guyana) and two adults. For two decades, this collaborative program has advanced a clear shared goal: expanding access to high-specialty pediatric cardiac care within Suriname, while steadily building the clinical skills and experience of local healthcare providers.
The on-the-ground Surinamese care team was led by pediatric cardiologist Amadu Juliana and pediatrician Kevin van ‘t Kruys, who worked side-by-side throughout the mission with a specialized LUMC team headed by lead pediatric cardiac surgeon Dave Koolbergen. In remarks following the conclusion of the mission, Koolbergen emphasized that the 20th anniversary milestone is a powerful reflection of what long-term cross-institutional collaboration can achieve. Treating children in their home country allows patients to stay surrounded by their families and familiar support networks, he noted, while also giving Suriname’s local clinicians and nursing staff the chance to gain hands-on specialized experience each year. This steady progress, he added, is foundational to the long-term development of pediatric cardiac care capacity across Suriname.
Pediatric cardiologist Lukas Rammeloo, who has participated in the mission for 19 consecutive editions, echoed that sentiment, calling the 20th anniversary program a particularly meaningful milestone. He explained that what began as a temporary outreach initiative has grown into a fully sustainable program that saves lives annually while transferring critical specialized knowledge to local Surinamese medical colleagues. The ultimate end goal of the work, Rammeloo noted, remains unchanged: to ensure that an increasing number of children born with cardiac conditions can access the specialized care they need without leaving their home country.
For the families of the young patients who received care, the successful outcomes of the mission mark the end of a period of anxious waiting. Fontuella Tjokrosentono, the mother of a 17-month-old boy who underwent surgery, shared that she maintained hope throughout the uncertain weeks despite her worry. Her son’s procedure went smoothly, and he is now cleared to return home healthy in the coming days.