Of Nigeria's 130 million population, 44% are children 14 years of age and younger. Given a birth rate of 39 births per 1,000 population and a 1% incidence of congenital heart defects, it is known that 51,000 children are born each year in Nigeria with heart defects. However, there are essentially no facilities in Nigeria to surgically correct these defects.
To the parents of these unfortunate children, the evidence of their children's heart defects is undeniable. Instead of enjoying his "terrible twos" the child exhausts easily, cries endlessly in pain and frustration at his inability to play with other children and frightens his parents with the specter of death.
The KANU HEART FOUNDATION, which provided majority support for this mission, was established by the Nigerian Professional Footballer Kanu Nwankwo to help young children who suffer from heart conditions in Nigeria. When this foundation announced plans to bring the International Children's Heart Foundation to Nigeria, hundreds of families came forward in hopes that their child could be listed on the surgical list. Because of years of untreated heart disease, many of these children had progressed to the point that surgery could no longer help them. The others were prioritized according to their immediate need for surgery.
This International Children's Heart Foundation mission to Nigeria began to address this overwhelming need for surgical life-saving treatment of children in Nigeria with heart defects. In addition to the actual operations performed, we provided teaching for the local physicians and nurses and donated over $100,000 of medical and surgical equipment which may be used in the future for continuing mission. ICHF very much wants to continue to develop this program in Nigeria and is willing to make the commitment to do so. However, funding remains the limiting factor. We ask for your donations to make this possible in Nigeria and the other countries where ICHF serves.
After each mission, we receive literally hundreds of letters from parents asking us to return to treat their children which could not be operated on during this last mission.
Below are some photographs of the children which we cared for during this 84th mission to Nigeria.
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