Ivory Coast: Heart operation – 18 children saved by the Abidjan Cardiology Institute and its Canadian partners
By Faustin Ehouman
A Canadian delegation of nine specialists from Sainte-Justine Hospital, including surgeons, cardiologists, anesthesiologists and nurses, visited Abidjan during the second half of November. The purpose of this visit was to provide advanced training on the fight against congenital heart disease and to help carry out vital interventions. These heart operations took place from November 18 to 22 at the Abidjan Cardiology Institute (ICA) located at the Treichville University Hospital, and benefited 18 children.
During the closing press conference of this visit, on November 22, at the ICA, Prof Euloge Kramoh, Director General of the Institute, highlighted the efforts of Côte d’Ivoire to position itself as a leader in pediatric cardiac care in West Africa. An ambition that involves strategic partnerships.
“This visit marks the first step in a long-term biannual collaboration under the Cardio Initiative that was launched in 2020. This public-private partnership brings together the Ministry of Health, the Abidjan Institute of Cardiology and the Swiss company Mitrelli and its partners, with the aim of strengthening our capacities in pediatric cardiac surgery,” he said.
The Cardio Initiative, he explained, focuses on improving the skills of Ivorian teams, modernizing infrastructure and establishing sustainable training programs. “The ultimate goal is to make Côte d’Ivoire self-sufficient in pediatric cardiac surgery and for its processes to meet international standards,” explained Prof. Kramoh.
And to argue: “currently, transferring a child abroad for an operation costs between 20 and 30 million CFA francs, while care in Côte d’Ivoire amounts to around 3 million CFA francs. Developing our local capacities allows us to save resources for families and for the country.”
For Prof. Nancy Poirier, cardiac surgeon, member of the Canadian delegation, strengthening the technical capacities of Ivorian medical teams will have benefits today and tomorrow. “It was the Ivorian doctors who performed the 18 operations and we, the Canadian team, played an observation role. We are proud of it (…) By improving the technical skills of Ivorian medical teams, we are not only helping current patients , we are creating a structure capable of meeting future needs and saving countless lives,” she said.
Prof. Miro Joaquim, a cardiac catheterization specialist, added: “This initiative is a bridge between Côte d’Ivoire and Canada, ensuring that the country is well equipped to treat congenital heart disease and reduce dependence on external resources.”
Mitrelli’s general director, Eva Peled, expressed her full commitment to supporting the Ica and the Ministry of Health in achieving their objectives “according to the vision of the President of the Republic to do everything possible to ensure a major hospital reform with a view to optimizing access to better quality care, even in the most sensitive areas such as pediatric cardiac surgery.”
