Make open-heart surgery affordable for those who need it

Surgeons performing coronary artery bypass operation. [Courtesy]

Every year, thousands of Kenyan families face a quiet but devastating health crisis; congenital and acquired heart disease. Over 5,000 children require open-heart surgery annually in Kenya, not to mention hundreds of adults whose conditions demand the same intervention.

Yet, the country performs only a fraction of these life-saving operations, leaving majority untreated. The reason is not that Kenya lacks medical expertise. In fact, our cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthetists, and specialist nurses are among the most skilled in the region. Rather, the barrier is cost.