Critical Congenital Heart Defects
The WHO estimates that each year, 270,000 newborns die during the first 28 days of life from congenital anomalies. Critical congenital heart defects (CCHDs) are one of the most common severe malformations in the world.
RVF launched a pilot program to screen newborns for critical heart defects in Georgia. This program began in the capital Tbilisi and was expanded to the cities of Batumi and Kutaisi. The Georgian Ministry of Health is sustaining these programs as of 2018. All newborns in these major population centers- approximately 30,000 infants annually are being screened for life-threatening congenital heart defects and receiving treatment as needed.
HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B
RVF conducted programs to screen pregnant women in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia for hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS, as well as newborns in Georgia for hypothyroidism. These programs to screen for hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS have been fully sustained by the local Ministries of Health (MOH). Over 1 million individuals benefited from screening and prevention programs before the local MOH fully sustained the programs. Programs continue to be carried out by each country’s MOH.