By Ayomide Otitoju
Lagos, Nigeria – Over the weekend, the Obijackson Foundation held a fundraising event to support its ongoing partnership with Hospitals for Humanity (HFH). The foundation, dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged children and women, aims to provide life-saving congenital heart surgeries for children in need.
The event, titled “Saving Little Hearts,” gathered compassionate individuals and organizations committed to making a difference in the lives of young patients. Generous donations, sponsorships, and community support significantly advanced the foundation’s goal of providing critical heart surgeries for children with life-threatening conditions.
“We are concerned about the high mortality rate among children with heart defects, and thus teamed up with international medical experts to provide life-saving surgeries,” said Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, founder of the Obijackson Foundation. “The funds we raised will directly impact countless children, giving them a chance at a healthy and fulfilling future. We are grateful to our partners, donors, and volunteers for their unwavering commitment to our cause.”
The foundation’s partnership with Hospitals for Humanity (HFH) has been crucial in delivering world-class medical care to children with congenital heart defects. In May, it sponsored corrective heart surgeries for 16 children, covering the costs of surgeries, pre-and post-operative care.
Pamela Egbo, Director of the Obijackson Foundation, highlighted the additional benefits of the partnership, including skill transfer and capacity building within Nigeria’s healthcare system. Local staff from the Obijackson Women and Children Hospital (OWCH) worked alongside HFH during the operations.
Dr. Segun Ajayi, CEO and Founder of HFH, emphasized the mission to transform lives by providing essential life-saving surgeries and medical care. “We have been performing pediatric open-heart surgery in Nigeria for the last 10 years, and saving little hearts is our goal,” he stated. Ajayi noted that HFH has screened over 2,000 children and performed more than 250 surgeries.
The impact of the initiative was felt by many families. Ikechukwu Nwosu, from Imo State, shared how his son, Ebube Nwosu, underwent corrective heart surgery for a 27mm hole in his heart, which he had lived with since birth. Nwosu was overjoyed, as the only cost he incurred was transportation to the screening exercise. Similarly, Chimamanda Udoka expressed gratitude for the catheterization procedure that repositioned her heart, thanks to the foundation’s efforts.
The Obijackson Foundation remains dedicated to serving underprivileged children and improving their overall well-being through initiatives like this, making a tangible impact on the lives of countless children and their families.
