The National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCC) at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, has achieved a milestone in pediatric cardiac care through a partnership with Germany’s Kinderherzen and the Gerald Asamoah Foundation. This collaboration, which commenced on November 3, focused on life-saving heart procedures for Ghanaian children suffering from congenital heart defects, specifically those with “hole in the heart” conditions.
Under this initiative, 27 children, including infants weighing less than six kilograms, received specialized cardiac interventions. The program included five open-heart surgeries and 22 minimally invasive “keyhole” procedures, marking a critical step toward accessible, advanced cardiac care for Ghana’s youngest patients.
Dr. Kow Entsua-Mensah, Director of the NCC, highlighted that the collaboration aims to enhance local expertise, enabling Ghanaian medical professionals to perform similar complex surgeries independently. The NCC team gained invaluable skills from this partnership, which will improve patient outcomes and expand treatment capacity in the future.
The Kinderherzen team and the Gerald Asamoah Foundation funded the mission with €250,000, covering essential equipment, supplies, and logistics for their visit to Ghana. Additional sponsorship from the Shen Yang and Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation, the Children’s Heart Foundation led by Jacqui Ahomka Lindsey, and Awake Mineral Water supported the program and provided direct assistance to patients’ families. The NCC has also invested approximately $80,000 in capital equipment to support its long-term goals.
At a press briefing in Accra, Anja Schlarb, Head of Kinderherzen International, and Gerald Asamoah, founder of the Gerald Asamoah Foundation, joined Dr. Entsua-Mensah to express their commitment to the collaboration, which is poised to bring advanced pediatric cardiac care to more children across Ghana.
