Qatar Charity, an NGO, in partnership with the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), has successfully completed its third annual congenital cardiac catheterisation project.

The intensive week-long mission provided life-saving, minimally invasive procedures to 40 beneficiaries, including children suffering from congenital heart defects.

The project, which started from August 17 to August 24, 2025, focused on correcting complex conditions such as Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) and Pulmonary Stenosis (PS).

These conditions are popularly known as "hole-in-heart" diseases and could be fatal if left untreated.

However, by utilising advanced cardiac catheterisation techniques, the medical team was able to perform corrective procedures without the need for open-heart surgery, ensuring faster recovery times and risks, reducing risks for the patients.

This initiative marks the third year of a fruitful collaboration between UGMC and Qatar Charity. 

Effective collaboration

Professor Mohammad Tawfiq Numan of Taxes University, a renowned Interventional Cardiologist, who led the visiting medical team, praised the synergy between the institutions.

"The success of this mission is a testament to true collaboration.

The support, professionalism and dedication from the entire UGMC team were exceptional.

"We must also reiterate our profound thanks to Qatar Charity Ghana, whose vision and unwavering support make these life-changing missions possible.

Together, we are not just fixing hearts; we are building hope and a healthier future," he said.

Professor Nana-Akyaa Yao, who took the centre stage of operations and planning within the collaboration at UGMC, also said that the success of the operation was a result of their commitment to saving lives. 

Support

The Country Director of Qatar Charity, Hasan Owda, thanked God and all the team members for availing their expertise to save lives.

He said his outfit was committed to the project that was impacting lives in the country.

Mr Owda said that the successful completion of the project underscored the commitment of both UGMC and Qatar Charity Ghana to advance healthcare, strengthen local expertise and provide critical medical care to those most in need.

Qatar Charity is dedicated to humanitarian and development programmes to fight global poverty and provide a dignified life for the needy.

The UGMC is a state-of-the-art quaternary medical and research facility located in Accra, dedicated to providing world-class patient care, training the next generation of healthcare professionals and conducting innovative research to address the health needs of citizens and the sub-region.  

Appreciation

The CEO of UGMC, Dr Abdul-Samad Tanko, expressed gratitude to the NGO for the successful execution of their mission, adding, "We are immensely appreciative of this continued partnership".

"Beyond the 40 lives immediately saved, the most significant long-term impact is the transfer of skills.

“Having our local team receive direct, hands-on experience and training from world-class specialists is invaluable.

This is crucial for building a sustainable, high-level cardiac care programme here in Ghana," he said.