The lives of more than 200 children suffering from heart ailments are at risk as the National Cardiothoracic Centre at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, struggles for funding to carry out surgical operations on them. The worrying situation has arisen because of the inability of their parents to meet the cost of the operation, while the centre has also virtually ran out of funds and medical resources to operate them. As the fate of the children hangs in the balance, the Ghana Heart Foundation, which mobilizes funds to support the centre, is urgently appealing to the public for support to save them. Dr. Baffour Gyan, a Cardiothoracic Surgeon, painted this gloomy picture of the situation at the centre, when the management of the Produce Buying Company (PBC) donated GH¢5,000 to the foundation. He said it would take a "miracle" to save the lives of the children. Although it is the cheapest in Africa, a heart surgery in Ghana cost GH¢20,000, half of which is borne by the centre whilst the patients pay the rest. Due to the unavailability of funds to import what he described as very expensive medications and other inputs required for surgery, Dr. Gyan noted that the centre had no option than to place a hold on the "free" surgeries. According to him, the number of children on the waiting list needing heart related operations, since late last year, could be more but for some parents who get frightened by the cost and therefore do not return for treatment. Ms. Anastasia Himans, Administrator of the Ghana Heart Foundation, expressed appreciation for the immense assistance the foundation had enjoyed from the corporate society in support of treatment to the poor, but noted that the challenge of inadequate funding, remained a hindrance to delivery of heart related health services. "We depend on your support and donations to sustain the centre, and we appeal to the public for more support to save more lives," she said. Mrs. Nanette Aryee, Head of Corporate Affairs of PBC, presenting the cheque, commended the centre and the foundation for the sacrifices they were making to save the lives of the under privileged, and assured them of the company's continuous support. Source: Ghanaian Times