As Christians around the world marked Christmas, a group of Zambian children recovering from life-saving heart surgeries celebrated the holiday far from home at Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) in Holon.
Thirteen pediatric and young heart patients from Zambia, accompanied by family members and caregivers, are spending Christmas in Israel as part of SACH’s humanitarian medical program, which provides free cardiac surgery to children from developing countries.
“What better gift for the holiday season than a free heart surgery?” said 11-year-old Ellice Habwanza, who is recovering from surgery and preparing to return home. Sixteen-year-old Mary Kalenga, who is awaiting her procedure, said she hopes the treatment will give her “a good start to 2026.”
Health wishes for the new year
The group marked the holiday with gifts, songs, and a visit from Zambia’s Ambassador to Israel, Wesley Mahuba Hazemba, who offered words of encouragement. “You are the future of tomorrow,” he told the children. “The doctors here are taking great care of you, and God willing, you will return to healthy lives in 2026.”
The Zambian delegation includes 28 people, among them parents and two Zambian cardiac care nurses. One of them, Nurse Wiltrida Nyambe, said the experience underscored the importance of access to care. “My wish for this new year is good health,” she said. “Health is wealth.”
While the children celebrated in Israel, another Christmas gift was arriving in Zambia. A state-of-the-art heart-lung machine valued at $200,000 was delivered to the Zambia National Heart Hospital in Lusaka through a partnership between SACH, the hospital, and the American Jewish Committee (AJC). The machine was installed and became operational ahead of schedule, positioning the hospital to significantly expand pediatric cardiac care in 2026.
Dr. Mudaniso Kumani Ziwa, a pediatric surgeon at the National Heart Hospital and a graduate of SACH’s fellowship program at Wolfson Medical Center, called the donation transformational. “This machine will allow us to treat more children and increase patient safety,” he said. “We are very grateful.”
Hospital director Dr. Chabwela Shumba said the new equipment would be a cornerstone in strengthening Zambia’s healthcare system. “It will enable more open-heart surgeries, train more specialists, and ultimately save lives,” he said, thanking SACH and AJC for their long-term commitment.
According to SACH, the new heart-lung machine is expected to double the number of children treated locally for congenital and rheumatic heart disease, reducing the need for costly overseas referrals and long waiting periods.
Founded in 1995, SACH has treated more than 8,000 children from 75 countries, offering hope and healing to children who would otherwise lack access to advanced medical care.
The organization has also trained hundreds of doctors and medical professionals worldwide, creating a growing chain of healing that strengthens cardiac care far beyond Israel’s borders.