Anambra: No fewer than 200 Nigerians have received life-saving cardiac interventions through the partnership between the Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation (SEOF) and the Vincent Obioma Ohaju Memorial (VOOM) Foundation since 2022. Mrs. Chidimma Okoye, Executive Director of SEOF, via a report on Sunday to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), celebrated the partners’ successful 200th open-heart surgery.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Okoye described the development as a testament to the impact of collaboration in expanding access to specialized healthcare in Nigeria. She revealed that the 200th surgery was achieved following the 11 successful open-heart procedures carried out during SEOF’s May 2026 Cardiac Mission at the Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Hospital (DIOMH), Oraifite, Anambra. She affirmed that the surgeries had transformed lives and restored hope to patients and families who otherwise might not have had access to the highly specialized treatment.
She added that the interventions had enabled children liv
ing with debilitating heart conditions to return to school and adults facing uncertain futures to resume productive lives and support their families. According to her, every successful surgery represents a life transformed, a family given renewed hope, and a future restored. “This achievement demonstrates what is possible when vision, expertise, and compassion come together in service of humanity. We are proud of what we have accomplished with the VOOM Foundation and even more determined to continue expanding access to life-saving cardiac care across Nigeria. Today, 200 hearts beat stronger because of this partnership. Tomorrow, many more will,” she said.
Mrs. Shawn Andaya-Pulliam, Executive Director of VOOM Foundation, said 200 of the 400 open-heart surgeries supported by the organization in Nigeria since 2013 had been achieved through its collaboration with SEOF in the last four years. She asserted that the milestone reflected the power of collaboration and a shared belief that access to quality cardiac ca
re should not be limited by geography or circumstance.
Andaya-Pulliam said the partnership had also contributed to strengthening local healthcare capacity through collaboration with Nigerian medical professionals, knowledge exchange, and the development of sustainable pathways for advanced cardiac care. “Together, we are transforming lives and building a stronger future for healthcare in Nigeria,” she said. Andaya-Pulliam reaffirmed the partnership’s commitment to reaching more patients, supporting healthcare professionals, and strengthening cardiac care systems across the country. She asserted that the milestone underscored what could be achieved when organizations unite around a common goal of saving lives and improving healthcare outcomes in Nigeria.