As part of its role to assist Nigerians with various heart diseases, the Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF) Tuesday in Abuja said it had so far spent about $4.2 million in carrying out heart operations for mostly Nigerian children with an average of $10,000 per person for surgeries.
The revelation came on the heels of plans by the Foundation to raise N5 billion for the building of an International Cardiac Centre in Abuja, for the treatment of heart diseases in the country.
Briefing journalists on the new project, Founder of KHF and one-time African Footballer of the Year, Kanu Nwankwo, said planned the ultra-modern cardiac centre was expected to perform about 250 heart surgeries annually.
He said the programme would involve free treatment of heart patients between the ages of 1-2 years while adult will be offered a subsidised treatment, adding: “When completed the centre will be a 40 bedded facility with state-of-the-art modern facility comparable to what is obtainable in foreign land.”
On the growing concerns centered on foreign trips by Nigerians for heart treatment, Nwankwo said: “We are worried by the growing number of patients suffering from congenital heart disease now waiting for attention on the Foundation’s lists it is important therefore that all Nigerians should help by contributing to establish a cardiac specialist hospital.”
Also speaking, coordinator of the project, Pastor Onyebuchi Abia, told journalists that “presently, it costs the KHF five times more money to send one child overseas for open heart surgery than if the surgery was performed in Nigeria, but the facilities are not available.”
The fund raising for the N5 billion project comes up in February next year, while the event is to take place in Abuja.
Paul Obi
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