Bridging Borders: One Italian’s Mission to Fulfil a French Dream for African Children

On the occasion of its 30ᵗʰ anniversary, La Chaîne de l'Espoir looks back on its journey through a publication that reflects its unwavering commitment to children's health.

This book brings together over 30 testimonials—each a testament to the dedication of key figures and partners of the association, who, in their own way, have contributed to this extraordinary human adventure. These narratives unveil the many facets of a mission built on surgery, medicine, solidarity, and commitment, where generosity, passion, and perseverance come together.

Among these profoundly heartfelt contributions, discover Mrs. Maria Elena Cuomo’s moving reflection on the creation of the Cuomo Paediatric Cardiac Centre, a project made possible through the philanthropic foundation that bears her name.

As the President of the Cuomo Foundation, a private NGO that was established in Monaco in 2001 through the Sovereign Ordinance of Prince Rainier III, I have the privilege of enabling supportive actions for many of those in need. Our organization was co-founded with my late husband, Alfredo Cuomo, who sadly passed away in 2009 leaving me to continue and expand the humanitarian aims outlined in the Foundation’s original charter. Our core mission is education and social initiatives, with a priority on helping underprivileged youth in emerging countries access education and move forward in life while preserving their dignity.

In India, we have established and supported numerous schools in Tamil Nadu, enabling more than 7,000 children to access quality education, particularly in rural areas and provide scholarships for their university studies. These schools are built on land owned by the Roman Catholic Church, our local partner. 

In West Africa, working alongside communities, we have built wells in Mali, and supported livestock programs in Burkina Faso to help them survive. We have funded a unique respite home for autistic children in France and sponsor the annual Roma Chopin Piano competition in Italy and many more educative programs. However, we had never ventured into healthcare until now.

This new venture led to encounters with two exceptional individuals: first, Professor Dreyfus, an internationally renowned cardiac surgeon and leading expert on the mitral valve; and second, Professor Alain Deloche, his mentor and the founder of La Chaîne de L’Espoir .Their friendship and dedication inspired us to support their ambitious vision of building a dedicated paediatric cardiac surgery hospital in Dakar, Senegal.

Professor Deloche has a special gift. When he speaks, his words mesmerize, and he has the power to make even the wildest dreams seem tangible. Perhaps it is in the French DNA, or perhaps it is the Bonapartist style of Professor Deloche. With the magic of his words and his striking turns of phrase, he convinced us to support his 20-year-old dream of building a specialist medical centre for not only the children of Senegal but of her neighbouring regions too. This hospital would provide a solution for children desperately in need who historically had to rely on the rare privilege of being flown to France for surgery, leaving the vast majority waiting in vain. This injustice of illness is compounded by the inability to attend school, with death as the only certainty.

These two highly skilled heart surgeons presented the unbearable situation with passion and humour. I can vividly recall Professor Deloche's unwavering belief as he explained to the board of the Cuomo Foundation that a sick child is unable to attend school, experiences social exclusion, and is deprived of the joys and dreams of childhood. Although nothing had been done yet, we were deeply moved and inspired.

After numerous discussions and trips, the Foundation accepted the ambitious challenge of fully funding the construction of the Cuomo Paediatric Centre in Dakar, starting from an empty plot of land donated by CHU Fann. We agreed to covering the costs for the construction, all equipment, and to support the centre for five years after its opening.

In addition to our deep commitment to the passion of these dreams, there existed an essential human factor that inspired us significantly. One key moment, during our initial visits, spurred us into action: Awa, a scared and dying child lying in a hospital bed at Fann. She was waiting anxiously for a procedure to fix the extensive damage to her heart valves caused by rheumatic fever. An orphan since her mother died, she could no longer attend school, but she held on to the hope of a carefree adolescence she should have had.

Awa was operated on successfully. I saw her just hours later, healed, filled with hope once more. This was the magic of cardiac surgery. I saw a dream become reality—for her and for so many others.

From there, the journeys to Dakar continued, the empty land awaited us waiting for the Foundation to bring the funding, for architects to draft the plans, for cranes to rise, for life to be breathed into this project—for sick children to smile again.

The inauguration of the Cuomo Paediatric Cardio Centre in February 2017 is a poignant memory, marked by its significance and beauty. A crowd of a thousand people gathered in the courtyard of the sleek, modernist building, which seemed to stand out against Dakar's red earth like a UFO. 

The ceremony, led by Senegal's First Lady Mrs. Marème Faye Sall and graced by the presence of France's First Lady Mrs. Brigitte Macron, was a grand affair. The attendees, including the people of Dakar, passed through a striking baobab sculpture created by Senegalese artists who were friends of the Cuomo Foundation. This symbolic baobab, adorned with a heart at its apex representing the Institute, served as an archway. In African culture, the baobab is a symbol of benevolence and protection, embodying the hope for children that the new paediatric cardiac unit would bring to Senegal and beyond.

I have continued to follow Awa’s journey since then. She resumed her studies. Ten years later, she underwent a second successful operation in Paris. She then pursued biology studies in Nantes, which she completed successfully. The cycle was complete.

Surgery had prevented the worst, giving this once-underprivileged child a renewed zest for life, the ability to pursue her education, to realize her ambitions—to live life, rather than merely endure it.

From this fairy tale ending we commissioned the short doc film "Un cœur sur la main," directed by Senegalese filmmaker Moussa Sène Absa, a prominent figure in African cinema and winner of the Silver Bear at the 2003 Berlinale. Film plays a significant role in the Foundation, serving as a means of documenting unique experiences and universal themes that are deeply ingrained in our cultural identity.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cuomo Centre was pivotal in crisis management. In March 2020, its operations were reorganized to prioritize managing the COVID crisis, leading to a temporary halt in cardiac patient care. This decision, though radical, was necessary and ultimately lifesaving as it allowed the Centre to focus its resources on the pandemic. With its advanced intensive care unit and highly trained medical staff, the Centre became a crucial national asset in the fight against the virus in Senegal.

Senegal's efforts during the pandemic were recognized by the international community, with a study published by Foreign Policy ranking the country second out of 36 worldwide for its handling of the pandemic. The Cuomo Paediatric Cardiology Centre played a significant role in this success.

Just a year ago, we celebrated a milestone:

• 1,000 patients operated on in Dakar
• 1,000 open-heart surgeries
• 1,000 lives saved
• 1,000 families relieved

Ten years ago, this was unthinkable. Together, we had achieved the impossible.

This important milestone is a significant achievement, but much more must be done to save lives—young and old—and stop needless deaths in this region.   We are aware of what must be done. We have done what we were supposed to do. Others must now take the initiative.

The Ancient City of Rome and Julius Caesar represented the power of the Roman Empire as it stretched across Europe and Africa, just missing Senegal!

That's why the Cuomo Foundation, led by a Roman, decided to venture beyond Carthage, responding to the call of Professor Deloche and Professor Dreyfus. Like the Roman soldiers who built the roads, aqueducts, ports and arenas, we, more humbly, laid the groundwork for a humanitarian project that will last beyond our time.

A heartfelt thank you to La Chaîne de l’Espoir—this unique and amazing project wouldn't have happened without them and their dreams. 

This journey has been unforgettable, filled with laughter, tears, hope, and challenges. It has been one of the most unexpected and rewarding experiences of my life.