The Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF) has proposed to build a befitting N5 billion naira Cardiac Centre in Abuja. This was disclosed in Abuja Monday by the Coordinator of the KHF,Pastor Onyebuchi Abia during a courtesy visit on the Minister of Health, Prof.C.O.Onyebuchi Chukwu.
He explained that the purpose of their visit was to intimate the Minister on the raising of N5 billion naira appeal fund for the construction of the Cardiac Specialist Hospital in Abuja which Mr. President has graciously accepted to be the Chief Launcher.
He said that the project was borne out of the need to fill the yawning gap in the health sector for the treatment of heart related ailments, especially those requiring open heart surgeries.
He pointed out that since inception of the Foundation in the year 2000, it has successfully helped 425 children get free open heart surgeries in hospitals across the world from Europe to Asia adding that the Foundation has spent about $4.2 Million US Dollars, an average of $10,000 Dollars per person, for surgeries outside Nigeria.
He hinted that the project which is the first in the country is expected to perform at least 250 open-heart surgeries annually when completed.
Pastor Abia expressed optimism that the Centre when become operational will certainly save more lives and curb capital flights stressing that it will also provide prevention services that will include public education and health promotion campaigns as well as screening services for early diagnosis.
He added that the Centre will also provide heart surgeries for 0-12 years free of charge and 12 years and above at subsidized rates.
He said that already the Federal Government has given the Kanu Heart Foundation a piece of land in Abuja for the construction of the project adding that it has secured the services of foreign and reputable heart hospitals in India and Africa as partners. The launching of the appeal fund is scheduled for March 14, 2013 in Abuja. He added.
In his remarks, the Minister of Health, Prof.C.O.Onyebuchi Chukwu commended Kanu Nwanko for establishing the Heart Foundation which has brought succour to those suffering from the heart ailment describing him as an icon of the country.
He commended him for extending his performance on the football pitch to setting up a Foundation which has saved many lives particularly the under privileged.
While calling on other Nigerian youths to emulate Kanu's sterling qualities, he encouraged the private sector to establish world class facilities to cope with the growing demands for healthcare services in the country nothing that Government has created an enabling environment for public private participation in the health sector.
Responding, Kanu Nwankwo commended the Federal Ministry of Health for collaborating and supporting the Foundation adding that so far about 450 people are on the awaiting list for the heart surgeries. He said: "We are giving back to the society by establishing this Centre and all hands must be on deck to bring it to fruition".
He said that aside from establishing the Specialist Heart Hospital in Abuja, the Foundation has mapped out modalities to establish heart Screening Centres in each State of the Federation stressing that it is in the process of organizing series of programmes and Summit to raise awareness on the disease.
While extending his hands of fellowship to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) on the need for players to do screening before going on the pitch, he thanked President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Ministry of Health for aligning with the vision of the Foundation, he called on all and sundry especially well spirited individuals to contribute their quota to the success of the centre.
Via: Federal Ministry of Health (FMH) Nigeria