The nonprofit organization, Hospitals for Humanity, has made a promise to conduct life-saving heart surgeries on 150 children every year, aiming to address the significant healthcare challenges experienced by Nigerian children with congenital heart defects.
This commitment is a response to alarming data showing that less than 0.001 percent of the approximately 85,000 children born with congenital heart defects in Nigeria actually receive the necessary surgical treatment.
Hospitals for Humanity recently marked ten years of its “Saving Little Hearts” initiative, raising funds to provide critical surgery for 150 Nigerian children in need.
With over 130 successful open-heart procedures already completed, the organization is now concentrating on enhancing the long-term capabilities of local hospitals and healthcare professionals.
Dr. Segun Ajayi, CEO and Founder of HfH, announced that the NGO has achieved significant milestones, including 16 successful pediatric cardiac catheterizations, screening over 1,500 children for congenital heart defects, and procuring $6.5 million in medical supplies and equipment.
Additionally, HfH has established five pediatric cardiovascular intensive care units and ICUs in Nigeria, addressing the challenge of congenital heart defects in the country.
he stated, “Hospitals for Humanity has a revolving list of over 1,000 patients from all over Nigeria. These children need these surgeries urgently and cannot afford to pay for treatment.
“We want to save at least 150 lives each year by performing free heart surgery on Nigerian children. We will significantly decrease healthcare barriers and create improved access to quality healthcare services through clinical medicine, training programmes for local medical professionals, research, advocacy and development.
‘We can’t do all of these alone, so we say a great big thank you to all our partners, sponsors, medical and non-medical volunteers and donors.”
The Executive Director of HfH, Ms Myna Shegog, added, “Every time, we pour ourselves into this work and when we come back year after year, it is an honour to see the fruits of our labour as these children progress, grow and thrive.”
