Ouagadougou: As part of a health cooperation initiative, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad has received a significant donation of medical equipment from the Johns Hopkins Hospital to enhance the cardiac surgery department at Tengandogo University Hospital.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the donated equipment includes two complete boxes of specialized surgical instruments designed for open-heart surgery, particularly coronary bypasses. This generous contribution stems from the Johns Hopkins Global Cardiac Surgery Initiative in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, and was facilitated by Dr. Fayyaz Hashmi, a renowned cardiac surgeon.
On May 27, Ambassador Hermann Yirigouin TOE, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad, officially handed over the medical equipment. This marks a significant step towards improving cardiac pathology treatment in Burkina Faso, laying the groundwork for a long-term partnership between Tengandogo University Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital aimed at bolstering national medical capacities in cardiac surgery.
Mr. Lin SOMDA, the Director General of Tengandogo University Hospital, expressed profound gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its facilitation role. He highlighted that this donation will play a crucial role in saving lives and improving health outcomes in the region.
The initiative traces back to April 2023, during a visit to the United States by Dr. Adama Sawadogo, a cardiac surgeon at Tengandogo University Hospital. This visit facilitated initial contacts with the Johns Hopkins team, aided by Mr. Hermann Yirigouin TOE, then Charg© d’affaires at the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Washington DC, and the Association of Burkinab¨ in the Washington region (ABURWA).
Further shipments of medical equipment are anticipated in the coming weeks, alongside an upcoming visit from Dr. Fayyaz HASHMI to Burkina Faso. During this visit, he is expected to conduct joint surgical interventions with the local medical team, marking a pivotal moment in the collaboration between Burkinabe and American health institutions.