Shen Yanchang, Founder and Chairman of Sunda Group, has offered to cover the cost of surgery for children with a hole in their heart for the next ten years.
The businessman, who has operated in Ghana over the past 20 years, disclosed that the initiative would cover the medical and surgical expenses of 25 children.
He was speaking at a brief ceremony at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on Friday, January 20, 2023.
The initiative would be facilitated by a foundation named after his son, who suffered from the condition when he was younger.
“You know, when my elder son was born five months after, we got a report from the doctor that he had a heart disease. During that time, we felt a lot of pain and we went to a very good hospital in China, after the surgery he got better,” he said.
Recounting his ordeal, the Chinese investor stated that his son, Shen-wan, became ill after the surgery.
“After he got saved in the next four to five years, he is always sick because the body is not so strong,” he added.
A consultant at the National Cardiothoracic Centre, Dr. Cole Mensah on his part noted that it is a major worry to see children with the condition unable to seek medical care due to the cost involved.
He expressed gratitude to the investor for the kind gesture.
“It is very painful, sometimes when you mention the amount and the parents break out in tears, because some of them cannot imagine what the equivalent of $6,000 dollars looks like. And to have the opportunity to do free surgeries for 25 children every year that’s a third of our capacity now and its extremely significant,” he said.
