Operation Open Heart Foundation

04/08/2026

Thank you TVWAN Online ♥️

Thirty children were screened under the 2026 National Paediatric Cardiac Screening Program in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville recently at the Buka General Hospital.

Dr. Kunera Kiromat, Paediatrician specialising in cardiac care, with the assistance of prominent Papua New Guinean paediatrician Dr. Mathias Tovilu and Health Extension Officer Delourdes Patuai, conducted the two-day screening on July 27 and 28.

Read more: https://tvwan.com.pg/news/10702

01/08/2026

Operation Open Heart Foundation sincerely appreciates EMTV Online for airing the AROB screening story.

01/08/2026

We thank TVWAN Online for publishing the Madang Paediatric cardiac screening story.

Thirty-five children were screened under the Operation Open Heart Foundation National Paediatric Cardiac Screening Program at Modilon General Hospital in Madang Province recently.

Read More: https://tvwan.com.pg/news/10646

01/08/2026

📢 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧!

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗰 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗸, 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗸 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲! ❤

👩‍⚕️ 𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚?
🫀 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚
(heart murmurs, cyanosis, failure to thrive, recurrent chest infections, unexplained heart enlargement, arrhythmias)

🫀 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙝𝙚𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚
(shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, swelling, irregular heartbeat, history of rheumatic fever, repeated strep throat infections, heart enlargement/fluid in lungs)

🔄 𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬-𝙪𝙥 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨
(Returning for ongoing care and review patients)

🩺 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗦 𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚?

✅ Registration & vital signs check (heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels)
👨‍⚕️ Doctors’ assessment on breathing, feeding, growth, chest infections
🎧 Physical exam: listening to heart sounds, checking for murmurs
🖥️ Ultrasound with BSP-donated portable machine to assess heart structure & valve function
📋 Clear diagnosis, management plan & referral for surgery if needed

💡 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀!

📍𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Wewak, East Sepik Province
📅 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 10th & 11th August 2026

👉 Please bring your children for screening! 💖

30/07/2026

𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣: We thank the NBC News PNG for featuring this news story from the National Cardiac Screening in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville 🫶❤

30 children in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville [AROB] have undergone specialized cardiac checks as part of the 2026 National Paediatric Cardiac Screening Program.

Read more: https://www.nbc.com.pg/post/38225/30-children-undergo-heart-screening-in-bougainville

30/07/2026

𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣: Operation Open Heart extends its sincere appreciation to The National for featuring this important news story ☺️

THIRTY-FIVE children in Madang were screened for heart conditions during a two-day medical programme held at Modilon General Hospital last week.

The screenings were conducted under the Operation Open Heart Foundation National Paediatric Cardiac Screening Programme by cardiac specialist Dr Diana Olita’a, alongside hospital staff.

— Pictures supplied

Read More : https://www.thenational.com.pg/35-undergo-heart-screening-in-madang/

30/07/2026

𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘 | 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗣𝗮𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗰 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 ❤

Thirty children were screened at Buka General Hospital during the National Paediatric Cardiac Screening Program on 27–28 July 2026.

📊 Highlights:

✅2 children diagnosed with complex cardiac conditions.
✅1 child identified for possible Open-Heart Surgery.
✅1 post-operative patient reviewed (PDA post-ligation).
✅10 children received healthy results with normal cardiac studies.

👩‍⚕️ Led by Dr. Kunera Kiromat in her first independent screening, supported by Prominent Paediatrician Dr. Mathias Tovilu and HEO Delourdes Patuai, the program brought specialized heart care closer to Bougainville families.

👨‍⚕️Dr. Tovilu emphasized the annual screening’s vital role in identifying children who may benefit from surgery, while ensuring those with complex conditions like rheumatic heart disease are connected to the right care pathways.

🙏 Special thanks to Buka General Hospital, Air Niugini BSP Financial Group Limited, and Sir Brian Bell Foundation for making this program possible.

🇵🇬 Screenings have already reached seven provinces, with East Sepik and Southern Highlands next in August, followed by East New Britain in September.

30/07/2026

𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣: Operation Open Heart Foundation thanks the NBC Bougainville - Sankamap News for making time to come and cover the Paediatric Cardiac Screening at the Buka General Hospital.

29/07/2026

Operation Open Heart Foundation thanks NBC Bougainville - Maus Blong Sankamap for covering the AROB Paediatric Cardiac Screening.

We acknowledge and appreciate the vital role of our media partners in sharing stories that highlight cardiac care in Papua New Guinea.

Wednesday 29th July 2026

HEART FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH BGH FOR CHILDREN'S HEART SCREENING

The Open Heart Foundation has conducted a nationwide heart screening program targeting patients with Buka concluding it's two days yesterday.

The Open Heart Operation Programme is targeting children. offering critical diagnostic opportunities for those with heart conditions.

As part of the initiative, echocardiograms and ultrasounds were performed exclusively in Buka.

The two-day screening program provided free cardiac assessments, with patients requiring further evaluation will be referred to Port Moresby (POM) for additional screening.

Pediatrician Dr. Marhias Tovilu said, the screening represents a significant step in expanding cardiac care access for children in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, bringing specialized heart diagnostics closer to communities that previously faced major barriers to early detection and treatment.

The program was made possible through a partnership between Buka General Hospital, BSP Bank and Air Niugini.

BSP Bank supported the effort by providing an echocardiography machine, enabling local ultrasound diagnostics to be conducted at the Buka General Hospital.

The Team departs Buka today.

*NBC Bougainville News

28/07/2026

Happy Retirement Professor Sir Isi Kevau ☺️