Foundation’s medical mission records 68 cardiac procedures in 2025

The Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation (SEOF), in partnership with the VOOM Foundation, has concluded its 8th Biannual Medical Mission and Community Health Fair, hosted at the Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Hospital (DIOMH).

The mission reinforces the hospital’s growing reputation as Nigeria’s fastest-growing cardiac surgery hub, a world-class centre delivering hope, healing, and high-impact medical innovation from the heart of a rural community in Oraifite, Anambra State.

Within three years, DIOMH has performed 189 open-heart surgeries, and this year’s mission alone recorded 68 cardiac procedures, including 44 open-heart surgeries (25 adults, 19 pediatric) and 24 interventional cardiology procedures (13 adults, 11 pediatric).

Patients ranged from 2-month-old infants to 70-year-old adults with congenital heart conditions that, with early access to urgent care, could have been corrected much earlier.

The foundation stated that this year’s mission brought together 63 international medical volunteers from Argentina, Bangladesh, Canada, the United States, Ghana, and Liberia, who worked alongside Nigerian medical professionals.

The collaboration prioritised strengthening Nigeria’s rural healthcare systems through knowledge exchange and other capacity-building initiatives.

According to the foundation, Nigeria continues to face a severe cardiac crisis, with 60 per cent of deaths attributed to cardiac-related diseases, underscoring the urgency and relevance of the mission.

Mrs Chidimma Okoye, Executive Director of SEOF, emphasised the foundation’s unwavering commitment.

“Every mission, every surgery, and every volunteer effort brings us closer to a Nigeria where access to advanced cardiac care is not a privilege but a right. What we have built in Oraifite is not just a hospital; it is a beacon of possibility for families who once believed they had nowhere to turn,” she said.

At the heart of this medical mission is the investment in advanced medical technology and modern infrastructure.

DIOMH houses a state-of-the-art 64-slide CT scan suite and a fully equipped cardiac catheterisation laboratory for interventional catheterisation procedures, reducing the need for traditional open-heart surgery.

It also boasts a comprehensive postoperative care unit, and there are ongoing local medical staff training.

These resources have positioned the hospital as a forerunner in cardiac interventions, serving as a model for what is possible when global expertise meets local commitment.

Dr Nwagboso, Cardiothoracic Surgeon at DIOMH, said that they aim to consistently deliver and maintain a level of quality of care and service that is at par with internationally accepted standards.

“The clinical volume of work done and clinical outcomes achieved in Oraifite prove that world-class healthcare can thrive anywhere when the right investments and partnerships are in place,” Dr Nwagboso.

Shawn Adaya Pulliam, Executive Director of VOOM Foundation, highlighted the powerful results of the collaboration.

Pulliam said that the partnership with SEOF shows what can happen when compassion, expertise, and purpose come together, adding that every volunteer saw firsthand the extraordinary transformation occurring in Oraifite and the results of selfless collaborations.

“Together, we are building a sustainable cardiac program that will save lives for generations.”

The 8th Biannual Medical Mission marks another milestone in a long-term vision to establish one of Africa’s most comprehensive, accessible, and sustainable cardiovascular care networks. But the journey is far from over.

The foundation revealed that it is inviting donors, partners, and global health stakeholders to join in expanding this life-saving effort through training and exchange programmes, equipment and technology support, funding for indigent patient care, and long-term institutional partnerships.

The foundation emphasised that a future in which no African dies from preventable heart disease is possible, and that it is built in Oraifite, Anambra State.