The Gerald Asamoah Foundation in collaboration with a German charity Kinderherzen and the National Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has successfully performed free surgeries for 27 children.
The surgeries were 5 open heart procedures and 22 key hole procedures and the beneficiaries were infants from birth to six(6)months of age.
Mr. Gerald Asamoah, the former German National player said he was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect when he was 18 and has never forgotten his roots.
He decided to start a foundation for the less privileged with congenital Heart Diseases in the year 2007 and has since supported more than two hundred (200)children suffering from such conditions.
The Kinderherzen team and the Gerald Asamoah Foundation jointly funded the mission to Ghana to the tune of €250,000. This covers the cost of equipment, consumables, transportation and accommodation of team members.
Mr. Asamoah stated that they would establish a comprehensive diagnostic system in order to detect early child congenital heart disease in children and would work closely with the medical team of the National Cardio Center on it.
Miss Anja Schlarb, Head of Kinderherzen International mentioned that they have been to nine countries and are happy with the warmth and dedication of the Ghanaian medical team. She gave the assurance that the medical team would be back to conduct more surgeries for under privileged.
Director for the National Cardiothoracic Center, Dr Kow Entsua- Mensah said that the goal is for every child with a congenital heart disease to have a timely intervention for all heart procedures without any hindrance.
The Director also disclosed that every year Korle Bu takes care of about 250 cardiothoracic cases and noted that the center has made a significant investment into equipment upgrade to the tune of $80,000.
He acknowledged the significance of other partners who have also supported the unit for the benefit of patients.
He thanked the Kinderherzen team and the Gerald Asamoah Foundation for their generosity and hoped for the best in their collaboration for the benefit of all.