Stylized heart with African continent symbolizing cardiac surgery progress in West Africa.

Heart Surgery in West Africa: How Far Have We Come?

Lena Kashyap in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Uncover the untold story of cardiac surgery in West Africa, challenging common misconceptions and highlighting the pioneering efforts that are transforming healthcare in the region."

West Africa, despite its economic challenges, has a rich but often overlooked history in cardiac surgery. Contrary to the belief that the region lacks significant cardiovascular infrastructure, several West African countries have made remarkable strides in this specialized field. This article aims to shed light on these developments, focusing on the pioneering efforts and ongoing advancements that are shaping cardiac care in the region.

Cardiac surgery, particularly open-heart procedures, demands substantial financial investment and specialized expertise. These requirements have historically made it inaccessible to many West African nations. However, dedicated healthcare professionals and institutions have defied these odds, establishing centers of excellence and performing life-saving surgeries.

This review examines the evolution and current state of cardiothoracic surgery in West Africa, using Ghana’s National Cardiothoracic Center (NCTC) as a primary reference point. It seeks to dispel the misconception that major cardiac centers are absent in the West African sub-region and highlight the progress achieved despite numerous obstacles.

Pioneering Efforts: The Origins of Cardiac Surgery in West Africa

Stylized heart with African continent symbolizing cardiac surgery progress in West Africa.

Four West African nations have documented accounts of open-heart surgery, marking significant milestones in regional healthcare. Recently, Cameroon has also joined these ranks, striving to provide local access to cardiac surgery for its citizens. These efforts reflect a growing commitment to addressing critical health needs within the region.

Nigeria's journey began on February 1, 1974, at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Enugu. A team of dedicated surgeons performed the first open-heart surgery, and by 2000, the center had completed 102 such operations. Despite initial success, the program faced numerous challenges that hindered its growth, including economic difficulties, political instability, and mismanagement.

Economic Hardship: Limited financial resources impeded sustained progress.
Political Instability: Frequent changes in government disrupted healthcare priorities.
Mismanagement: Inefficient administration and resource allocation hampered operations.
Poor Funding: Inadequate financial support curtailed the program's potential.

Côte d'Ivoire reported its initial 300 open-heart surgeries in Abidjan by 1983, focusing on cardiac valve disease, congenital heart disease, and endomyocardial fibrosis. Despite a notable hospital mortality rate of 13.3%, the center continued its work, performing 851 open-heart operations by 1987. Economic challenges and civil strife eventually contributed to the decline of the open-heart program in Abidjan. In Senegal, Professor M. Ndiaye's team at Dakar's Fann University Teaching Hospital initiated an open-heart program in 1990. By 1995, the first surgery took place, marking the beginning of regular open-heart operations in the country. Today, Ndiaye's department serves as a key reference point for francophone West Africa, with 15-20% of cases involving children.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Cardiac Surgery in West Africa

The advancement of cardiothoracic surgery in West Africa is closely linked to economic development and political stability. As nations in the region experience growth and stability, healthcare infrastructure and specialized medical services, including cardiac surgery, are expected to improve. Investment in training, infrastructure, and innovative techniques will be crucial for sustained progress.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4314/pamj.v9i1.71190, Alternate LINK

Title: The Development Of Cardiac Surgery In West Africa - The Case Of Ghana

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Pan African Medical Journal

Publisher: Pan African Medical Journal

Authors: F Edwin, M Tettey, E Aniteye, M Tamatey, L Sereboe, K Entsua-Mensah, D Kotei, K Baffoe-Gyan

Published: 2011-10-26

Everything You Need To Know

Which West African countries have documented accounts of performing open-heart surgery?

Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and more recently Cameroon have all documented accounts of performing open-heart surgery. Nigeria's first open-heart surgery was on February 1, 1974, at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Enugu. Côte d'Ivoire reported its initial 300 open-heart surgeries in Abidjan by 1983. In Senegal, Professor M. Ndiaye's team at Dakar's Fann University Teaching Hospital initiated an open-heart program in 1990.

What factors contributed to the decline of open-heart surgery programs in some West African countries?

Economic hardship, political instability, and mismanagement all significantly contributed to the decline. Nigeria's program at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) faced these challenges, hindering its growth after initial success. Similarly, Côte d'Ivoire's open-heart program in Abidjan suffered due to economic challenges and civil strife. These factors led to inadequate funding, disrupted healthcare priorities, and inefficient resource allocation, ultimately impacting the sustainability of these programs.

What specific challenges did Nigeria face in sustaining its open-heart surgery program at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH)?

The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) faced challenges such as economic hardship, which limited financial resources for equipment and training. Political instability caused frequent changes in government, disrupting healthcare priorities and funding. Mismanagement and poor funding exacerbated these issues, leading to inefficient administration and inadequate financial support, which curtailed the program's potential for growth and sustainability. Overcoming these challenges requires sustained commitment and strategic planning.

How does Ghana's National Cardiothoracic Center (NCTC) serve as a reference point for cardiac surgery in West Africa, and what implications does this have for the region?

Ghana's National Cardiothoracic Center (NCTC) serves as a primary reference point, helping to dispel the misconception that major cardiac centers are absent in the West African sub-region. Its existence highlights the progress achieved despite numerous obstacles. This has significant implications because it demonstrates the feasibility of establishing and maintaining specialized medical facilities in the region, encouraging other countries to invest in similar infrastructure. Also Senegal's Department at Dakar's Fann University Teaching Hospital, serves as a key reference point for francophone West Africa.

How is the advancement of cardiothoracic surgery in West Africa linked to broader societal factors, and what steps are crucial for its sustained progress?

The advancement of cardiothoracic surgery in West Africa is closely linked to economic development and political stability. Economic growth enables greater investment in healthcare infrastructure, specialized medical services, and training programs. Political stability ensures consistent healthcare policies and sustained funding. Crucial steps for sustained progress include investing in the training of healthcare professionals, improving infrastructure, and adopting innovative surgical techniques. Moreover, international collaborations and partnerships can provide valuable resources and expertise to support the development of cardiac surgery programs in the region.