Specialist cardiothoracic surgeon and chairman of the Young Hearts Africa Foundation NGO has teamed up with musicians to launch a spiritual album, called Sacred heart, the proceeds of which will fund lifesaving surgeries for thousands of babies and young children born with heart malformation in sub-Saharan Africa.
At least 90% of children born with heart defects have no access to medical care, reports EWN.
Cape Town’s Dr Wilhelm Lichtenberg, known as “the singing surgeon”, embarked on the initiative after the death of a young girl, who received treatment late due to healthcare access constraints.
“We struggled with her the whole day, and eventually the little girl died at 10 that evening,” he said. “I was a junior member of the team and I had to go and tell the mother… the look on her face when I told her her little girl had died is something I will never forget.”
Lichtenberg says the first operation, funded by the Young Hearts Africa Foundation, was performed a week ago.
EWN article – Cape surgeon using music to help children with heart conditions access care
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