08/12/2026
Currently, over 2,000 children in Ghana need heart healing care for a congenital heart disease. As of today there is only one center in Ghana providing this care.
Gift of Life International partnered with the pediatric cardiac team at Duke University Hospital for a visit to Ghana with interest in developing a second center for pediatric cardiac care. The visiting team was composed of medical professionals from Duke University Hospital, Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Soto, Gift of Life International’s clinical consultant and pediatric cardiac surgeon, and Dr. Turek, chief of the pediatric cardiac team at Duke, worked closely with Dr. Gyan, the local pediatric cardiac surgeon in Accra. Visiting intensive care unit nurses and intensivists also worked closely with the local medical team to share knowledge and provide training in this complicated care.
Seven surgeries were completed successfully during the week, and the team was able to assess the infrastructure, equipment, and personnel available for future development. ❤️🩹
