A 12-day-old baby girl from Kasama has been thrown into the fight of her life after being born with two severe congenital conditions that make every breath and every feed a struggle for survival.
The newborn came into the world with dextrocardia, a rare defect where the heart grows on the right side of the chest instead of the left and a tracheo-esophageal fistula, a dangerous passage linking the food pipe to the windpipe.
According to, Kasama General Hospital Head of Paediatrics Siloka Silas, the combination of these conditions leaves the infant vulnerable to choking and severe lung infections.
“This baby needed immediate care from a team of heart and breathing specialists in Lusaka,” said Dr Siloka.
This is because Kasama General Hospital does not have the advanced equipment or specialist doctors required to perform such complex procedures, making the baby’s condition even more precarious.
The hospital immediately contacted the Ministry of Health to request an emergency transfer.
With road travel ruled too dangerous, the Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) was called in.
Yesterday morning, a ZFDS aircraft landed at Kasama Airport, where a team of medics worked quickly to stabilise the fragile baby throughout the flight.
Upon landing at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, an ambulance rushed the baby to the National heart hospital, where a team of heart specialists awaited her arrival.
Only time will tell how the baby will respond after the process has been concluded.
By George Musonda
Kalemba August 9, 2025
