Twenty‑two patients living with severe heart rhythm disorders have successfully undergone complex cardiac device implantations at the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCTC), Korle Bu, in a mission valued at GH₵2 million.
The initiative was spearheaded by the Mount Carmel Foundation in partnership with the NCTC, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund–MahamaCares, and Africa World Airlines, bringing together specialists from Ghana and the United States to deliver life‑saving care.
During a debriefing session, NCTC Director Dr. Kow Entsua‑Mensah praised the seamless multidisciplinary teamwork that enabled the procedures. He noted that cardiac surgeons, electrophysiologists, anesthesiologists, cathlab and operating room staff, ICU nurses, radiographers, pharmacists, and laboratory scientists worked in close coordination, ensuring all patients recovered well and were ready for discharge by the final day.
Dr. Entsua‑Mensah emphasized that the mission lays the foundation for long‑term collaboration, combining direct patient care with sustainable knowledge transfer and local training to strengthen Ghana’s capacity in advanced cardiac electrophysiology. He assured that patients unable to attend during the week would still receive treatment at the Cardio Centre.
One of the beneficiaries, Juliet Asabea Awuku, who had been living with heart failure due to peripartum cardiomyopathy, expressed profound gratitude after receiving a Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) device. “The immense financial relief of this procedure means everything to us,” she said. “My family and I are profoundly grateful to the dedicated local medical team here in Ghana, as well as the diaspora specialists who traveled to support us. May God richly bless you all for your gift of health and hope.”
Team lead Dr. Kamel Addo, a cardiologist‑electrophysiologist from the Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, Ohio, highlighted the success of tackling intricate procedures such as CRTs, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators, and left bundle branch pacing. He commended the discipline and professionalism of the Korle Bu team, noting that the mission was made possible through sponsorship from the Mount Carmel Foundation, which eased the financial burden of devices and procedures for under‑resourced patients.
Officials say the collaboration represents a significant step toward expanding access to advanced cardiac care in Ghana, ensuring that life‑saving interventions are available to those who need them most.
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