The Gerald Asamoah Foundation, in partnership with German charity Kinderherzen and the National Cardiothoracic Centre at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, has successfully performed 27 free heart surgeries for children in Ghana. The procedures included five open-heart surgeries and 22 minimally invasive keyhole surgeries, benefiting infants from birth to six months of age.

Gerald Asamoah, a former German national team player of Ghanaian descent, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect at 18. His personal experience inspired him to establish his foundation in 2007, aiming to help underprivileged children with congenital heart conditions. Since then, his foundation has supported over 200 children with similar health issues.

The joint mission by the Kinderherzen team and the Gerald Asamoah Foundation was funded with €250,000, covering equipment, consumables, and team transportation and accommodation. Mr. Asamoah expressed plans to establish a comprehensive diagnostic system for early detection of congenital heart disease in Ghana, collaborating closely with the National Cardiothoracic Centre’s medical team.

Miss Anja Schlarb, Head of Kinderherzen International, praised the dedication and warmth of the Ghanaian medical team and assured continued support, stating that they would return to perform more surgeries for underprivileged children in need of heart care.

Dr. Kow Entsua-Mensah, Director of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, highlighted the centre's commitment to ensuring timely interventions for every child with congenital heart disease. He noted that Korle Bu handles around 250 cardiothoracic cases annually and recently invested $80,000 in equipment upgrades to enhance their services. Dr. Entsua-Mensah expressed gratitude to the Kinderherzen team and the Gerald Asamoah Foundation for their generous support and hoped for a sustained collaboration that benefits patients.