A non-profit Organisation (NGO), Obijackson Foundation has joined forces with Hospitals for Humanity (HFH) to provide life-saving heart surgeries for 50 children suffering from congenital heart defects.
In a statement, the surgical procedures sponsored by the foundation will correct the defect in the children selected through clinical screening from a long-waiting list of sufferers in need of help.
“This also provides the opportunity to transfer medical skills and build capacity in Nigeria’s healthcare system considering this is a specialist field and local staff from the Obijackson Women and Children Hospital (OWCH) will work alongside HFH during the operation.
The first phase of the intervention saw a heart screening programme at the OWCH in Okija, Anambra State, to determine the status of the condition, its severity, and the level of intervention required. The assessment revealed that some of them no longer required surgeries as their defects were healed.
However, others with critical conditions, most of whom are facing uncertain futures, were placed on a waiting list, awaiting the opportunity for a life-changing operation that will be held in May, August, and November of this year, with the number of beneficiaries likely to go up through the support of other Nigerians.
Director, Obijackson Foundation, Pamela Egbo, said the initiative represents a beacon of hope for those who cannot help themselves.Egbo noted that the impact extends beyond medical care. ‘’The heart screening programme was a profound experience, revealing tear-jerking scenes of children battling serious forms of congenital heart defects, parents gripped by sadness and desperation, and families grappling with the financial burden of medical care. However, amidst the struggles, there was an unwavering determination to make a difference’’, she asserted.
HFH Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Founder, Dr Segun Ajayi, said the mission is clear: to transform lives and save little hearts by providing essential life-saving surgery and medical care to those in need.
He stated that beyond the immediate medical intervention, the collaboration seeks to raise awareness about congenital heart defects and mobilise support for those affected. ‘’It is a call to action, and I urge people to come together to support these vulnerable children and their families,’’ he added.
