The Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery, located on the outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan, is a unique hospital that provides free, highly specialized heart surgery primarily to patients suffering from rheumatic heart disease and other serious cardiac conditions. Since it opened in 2007, it has offered tens of thousands of consultations and performed more than 10,000 life-saving surgeries for patients from Sudan and neighbouring African countries, offering hope where access to treatment is severely limited.
The centre’s unique mission
Operated by the humanitarian NGO named EMERGENCY, the Salam Centre is the only fully free cardiac surgery hospital in a region home to more than 300 million people. It specializes in heart valve repair or replacement surgery, addressing damage largely caused by rheumatic fever, a condition linked to poverty, lack of healthcare, and poor hygiene infrastructure. Despite being eradicated in wealthier countries, rheumatic fever incidence in Sudan is alarmingly high, affecting around 1 in every 1,000 people compared to very low rates in high-income countries. This results in many young patients requiring surgery, as 56% of those treated at the Salam Centre are under 26 years old.
Comprehensive care and training
Beyond surgery, the hospital is deeply committed to training local healthcare professionals including cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses. It is accredited by the Sudanese Medical Specialization Board, helping build Sudan’s long-term medical capacity and sustainability. The Centre also functions as the hub for a Regional Program for Cardiac Surgery, identifying patients across Africa who need care and managing follow-up services for operated patients.
Regional impact and partnerships
The Salam Centre treats patients from over 27 countries, including Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Chad. Its ongoing work is supported partly by the Sudanese government and largely by private donors and international partnerships. It stands as a flagship facility within the African Network of Medical Excellence (ANME), aiming to develop a continent-wide integrated network of humanitarian medical centers.
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Heartbeat of humanity
In an area where access to specialized cardiac treatment is sparse, the Salam Centre symbolizes peace and health, it is named “Salam,” the Arabic word for peace. Since its first operation in April 2007, it has continually expanded its services, bringing life-saving surgery to thousands who otherwise would have nowhere to turn.
