AKTH conducts free open-heart surgeries in Kano

The Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano, Nigeria, recently conducted free open-heart surgeries with support from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid Relief Centre Association in Saudi Arabia. The surgeries were led by the Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit at AKTH, with Dr. Jamil Ismail Ahmad praising the initiative for providing relief to patients who couldn't afford treatment abroad.

Normally costing 8-10 million naira in Nigeria, the surgeries were almost free for patients, compared to 25-30 million naira abroad. Ahmad noted the encouraging outcomes of previous missions, with a survival rate of 80-90%.

The team leader of the Saudi Arabian association, Abdullah, highlighted the challenges of delivering care in underserved regions like Nigeria, Sudan, and Yemen. The initiative called for government, philanthropic, and private sector support to invest in infrastructure, equipment, training, and local programs to save lives and reduce the burden on the healthcare system.

So far, five patients.