United in earnest: First pilot sites for increased surgical capacity for rheumatic heart disease announced by Cardiac Surgery Intersociety Alliance

BackgroundRheumatic heart disease (RHD) affects more than 33,000,000 individuals, mostly from low- and middle-income countries. The Cape Town Declaration On Access to Cardiac Surgery in the Developing World was published August 2018, signaling commitment of global cardiac surgery cardiology communities improving care for RHD patients.MethodsAs formed basis which Intersociety Alliance (CSIA) formed, purpose this article is describe history CSIA, its formation, ongoing activities, future directions, including announcement selected pilot sites.ResultsThe CSIA an international alliance consisting representatives major cardiothoracic surgical societies Heart Federation. Activities have included meetings at annual conferences, exhibit hall participation advertisement recruitment, publication selection criteria centers apply support. Criteria focused on local operating capacity, championing, governmental facility support, appropriate identification a specific gap care, desire engage research. Eleven applications were received three finalist sites site visits conducted. two Hospital Central Maputo (Mozambique) King Faisal Kigali (Rwanda).ConclusionsSubstantial progress has been made since passing formation but efforts with collaboration all committed parties—cardiac surgery, cardiology, industry, government—will be necessary improve access life-saving patients.