Sustainable Pediatric Heart Care for Libya – Be the Change

Help Save Lives Training Libyan Physicians & Nurses in Pediatric Cardiac ICU

{وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا}

"And whoever saves a life, it shall be as if he had saved all mankind." (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:32)

My name is Mahmud Elfituri, and I am a pediatric cardiology fellow at Stanford Children's Hospital. My journey in medicine began in Libya, where I completed medical school and pediatric training before continuing my education in Qatar and the United States. Over the years, I have witnessed firsthand the heartbreaking struggles of children with congenital heart disease in Libya due to the lack of specialized pediatric cardiac care and critical care services.

Libya is not a poor country, but corruption and mismanagement have hindered the development of a sustainable pediatric cardiology and cardiac ICU program. While millions have been spent on short-term medical missions, very little has been invested in training local physicians and nurses to build a lasting, self-sufficient healthcare system. Many Libyan doctors have been sponsored to train abroad, but most have not returned due to challenging circumstances. Meanwhile, dedicated physicians who remain in Libya lack exposure to advanced cardiac ICU care—a crucial component of any successful pediatric heart program. I believe that every child deserves the chance to live and every parent deserves a chance to have quality time with their kids, yet many children with congenital heart disease die in Libya due to the lack of an established congenital cardiac program.

A Sustainable Solution

I believe that sustainable change begins with empowering committed local physicians and nurses. After facing numerous challenges securing training opportunities in the U.S. and other countries due to visa restrictions and institutional barriers, I found a solution closer to home: Alnas Hospital in Egypt—a high-volume, high-acuity center with a patient population and clinical setting similar to Libya.

Training Initiative

With the support of Alnas Hospital, we have secured training opportunities for:

✅ Three Libyan pediatricians to undergo six months of intensive hands-on training in pediatric cardiac ICU care.

✅ Two Libyan nurses to receive six months of specialized training, forming the foundation of future cardiac ICU units in Libya.

We have already selected three physicians—two from Benghazi and one from Tripoli. The selection process was based on their clinical performance, dedication, recommendations from respected senior Libyan pediatric cardiologists, and personal interviews. The youngest of these doctors has seven years of pediatric experience, while the most senior has over 15 years in pediatric cardiology. While am not related to these physicians by blood, we are related in sharing the same vision of providing better care for children with congenital heart disease in Libya. These physicians have already demonstrated a remarkable commitment to serving patients in Libya from different backgrounds, making them ideal candidates to lead future development efforts.

While six months is not enough to become a fully trained pediatric cardiac intensivist, it provides a strong foundation and a crucial starting point. This training will equip them with the knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to build upon and help establish a structured pediatric cardiac ICU program in Libya.

Why This Matters

These doctors and nurses will return to Libya armed with invaluable experience, enabling them to:

Manage complex congenital heart disease cases

Support and expand surgical missions in Libya

Train future generations of Libyan healthcare providers

This is the first step in a long-term vision to develop a sustainable pediatric cardiac ICU program in Libya led by local professionals.

As there are no safe ways to transfer money to Libya, I will be personally managing the funds, and it will be assigned under my name to my bank account before I transfer the money to the trainees through Western Union/MoneyGram when they are in Egypt.

How You Can Help

All selected physicians and nurses have voluntarily given up their salaries to pursue this life-saving training. However, they still need financial support for:

Travel and accommodation expenses

Living costs during the six-month training period

Each individual needs approximately $5,000 to cover these expenses

Any extra funds will go towards building pediatric cardiology service in Libya

Be Part of the Change

Your donation, no matter the amount, will help train these dedicated physicians and nurses, equipping them with the skills to save countless lives in Libya. One person alone cannot create change, but together, we can build the foundation for a brighter future in pediatric cardiac care for Libyan children.

Please consider donating and sharing this campaign with others. Let’s take the first step toward sustainable, life-saving change.

Thank you for your kindness and support!

Mahmud