Under the supervision of the King Salman Relief Center (KSrelief), the Al-Balsam Association has successfully concluded its campaign in Uzbekistan, performing 88 heart surgeries and interventional catheterizations for adults

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) conducted a voluntary medical project for cardiac surgery and catheterization for adults in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from October 12 to 19, 2024.

 This initiative aimed to treat heart patients and was carried out in collaboration with the Al-Balsam Association for Training and Health Development. The project is part of KSrelief's ongoing efforts to implement voluntary medical programs in various countries, providing treatment to individuals and families with limited income.

The surgeries were conducted at Vakadov Surgical Hospital in Tashkent, where the Al-Balsam Medical Association team successfully performed 23 open-heart surgeries and 65 catheterization procedures, providing essential healthcare to patients.

The medical and administrative team from Al-Balsam comprised 20 individuals, including senior cardiac surgeons, interventional catheterization specialists, and Saudi experts, all led by Professor Rakan Nazer, a consultant cardiac surgeon. Uzbek doctors collaborated closely with the Al-Balsam team in the operating rooms and throughout the surgical preparation process, ensuring that the procedures were carried out with the highest levels of efficiency and professionalism.

The voluntary medical program for cardiac surgery and interventional catheterization for adults in Uzbekistan was inaugurated during a conference at the Medical Center of the Uzbek Hospital. The event featured the participation of His Excellency Yousef Saleh Al-Jahra, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Uzbekistan; Mr. Hamoud Al-Mutairi, Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom; Davron Sultanov, Deputy Minister of Health of Uzbekistan; a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan; Dr. Saeed Murad, Director General of the Uzbek Hospital; and several officials from the Saudi Embassy in Uzbekistan.

Davron Sultanov, Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, noted that the medical campaign for open-heart surgeries and interventional catheterization, sponsored by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), is part of the Center's broader charitable initiatives and humanitarian efforts conducted worldwide.

Sultanov said, "We were honored to welcome the Al-Balsam Association team, which consists of 20 skilled doctors specializing in cardiac surgery and interventional catheterization. Over the course of a week, they provided high-quality services to patients completely free of charge, under the auspices of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief)."

Dr. Ahmed Al-Ahmari, Executive Director of the Al-Balsam Association for Training and Health Development, stated that as part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's pioneering humanitarian efforts to support brotherly and friendly nations, the Al-Balsam Association implemented the voluntary medical project for cardiac surgery and catheterization in Uzbekistan, with the generous support and oversight of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief). He emphasized the Center's crucial role in providing healthcare and humanitarian aid worldwide.

Al-Ahmari explained that the project aims to deliver advanced medical services to heart patients through surgeries and interventional catheterizations. The medical program included a variety of procedures, such as valve and artery replacements, as well as advanced interventional cardiac catheterizations. Notably, the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) technique was used for the first time in Tashkent, offering an innovative alternative to traditional heart surgery for treating acute aortic valve stenosis.

Al-Ahmari emphasized that this project is part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts, represented by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), to support humanitarian and health initiatives worldwide. It reflects the Kingdom's commitment—under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his faithful Crown Prince—to provide assistance to those in need while fostering international cooperation in the medical and humanitarian fields to serve humanity and alleviate the suffering of patients.

It is noteworthy that, under the supervision of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, the Al-Balsam Association for Training and Health Development implemented a voluntary medical program for neurosurgery in Yemen last August, successfully performing 43 surgeries to treat neurological patients. This campaign followed a medical initiative in May, during which 251 open-heart surgeries and interventional catheterizations were conducted to treat both adult and pediatric heart patients at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Hospital in Aden.