United Nigeria Airline (UNA) in collaboration with Kanu Nwankwo Heart Foundation (KHF) have partnered Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation to facilitate open-heart surgeries in Nigeria.
Kanu Nwankwo, the founder of KHF and Obiora Okonkwo, the founder of UNA were both overwhelmed with Cardiovascular Surgeries, equipment and other hospital facilities they saw on Tuesday during a facility tour of the Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Hospital (DIOMH), Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra state.
Kanu, ex-international footballer commended Sir Emeka Okwuosa for the initiative which had left many Nigerians spending hard earned foreign currencies travelling abroad to seek for medical treatments.
“Nigeria needs more hospitals that conduct open-heart surgeries, we have over 200 patients on the KHF waiting list. Having more hospitals in Nigeria would significantly help.
“It is a wonderful thing in all we have seen here today at the DIOMH facility. This is what we pray for in the country to help out in what we are facing doing surgery operations outside the country.
“Now, we have a place in Nigeria, such that have all the facilities needed, and good hands too to carryout the treatments.
“It will save a lot of cost and save more Nigerian lives,” he said.
Kanu, however, called for adequate publicity for people to access the services at the DIOMH.
“Let more people know about this place, and come to access the services,” he said.
He said that his heart foundation would partner with Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation in the exchange of some patience for treatment and training of personnel.
Okonkwo said he was encouraged to partner with Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation for having the same vision with his company “giving back to the society with the God blessings.’
The partnership benefits are in the area of official travel partner of the medical mission and fostering stronger relationship.
According to him, health is critical in life and “our visit to the hospital have given me more insight my commitment in the partnership.
“It is good we are here. We have already committed ourselves in the partnership, even when we have not visited the facility, but today having come here and seen what is on ground. It is beyond our imaginations.
“So that way will show our more support.
Ebiuwairo Uwagboe, the media and communication coordinator of the Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation (SEOF) enumerated its achievements since the establishment in 2021in partnership with Vincent Ohaju Obiama Memorial (VOOM) Foundation.
She said that in 2021, SEOF established a state-of-,the-art hospital DIOMH in Oraifite, Anambra state with advanced Cardiothoracic facilities including a 128-Slice CT Scan, Cath Lab, 4D Ultrasound and ICU Ventilators.
The achievements in just two years included the conducting of six biannual open-heart surgery missions.
Others are 118 open-heart surgeries ( adult and pediatrics), 10 pediatric interventional catheterization in southern Nigeria), 2 major vascular surgeries (October 2024) and over $1.29 million invested in surgeries, equipment, consumables and logistics.
