The Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation (SEOF), through its adult heart medical mission, says it has facilitated open-heart surgeries for two brothers from Okeba, Delta.
According to a report released by SEOF on Thursday and signed by its Executive Director, Mrs. Chidimma Okoye, the beneficiaries are Messrs. Frank Aweto and Evans Aweto.
Okoye said both brothers benefitted from the surgeries sponsored alongside the Vincent Obiama Ohaju Memorial (VOOM) Foundation.
She said both foundations shared a common goal and that their collaboration with the Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Hospital was to save lives and improve healthcare accessibility for Nigeria’s underserved communities.
She stated that the Aweto brothers had the surgeries at the Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Hospital in Oraifite, Anambra State, a medical institution specialising in cardiothoracic care.
According to her, they have completed 69 groundbreaking open-heart surgeries within two years.
Okoye noted that the story of the Aweto brothers underscored the dire healthcare challenges faced by many Nigerians owing to limited access to medical care.
The SEOF executive director, expressing joy for the lives and current condition of the Awetos, said that for almost two years now, both brothers had been thriving.
She said the development reminded her of the profound impact of philanthropy in restoring hope and dignity to those in need.
She added that their story served as an inspiration, fueling the foundation’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.
“Their surgeries have granted them the chance to live happy, healthy lives.
“Frank dreams of starting a family, while Evans aspires to serve as a naval officer — a testament to the transformative power of SEOF’s intervention.
“Through this partnership, SEOF has conducted 69 open-heart surgeries, establishing itself as a beacon of hope in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape,” she said.
The report quoted Frank Aweto, age 33, and the older sibling, as saying he discovered the heart disease during a routine medical check-up required for his enrollment at the Petroleum Institute in Warri.
According to him, the checkup revealed an enlarged heart, and that for years, he endured silently until the intervention of the SEOF’s medical mission.
The older Aweto expressed gratitude to SEOF and the VOOM foundation, adding that it is the reason they live.
“We never thought the surgeries will be free but we dared to hope and went anyway and to our amazement, we received the surgery we needed to survive.
“My brother’s cardiovascular disease was more severe and he was misdiagnosed and dismissed by multiple healthcare providers, hence he endured a lifetime of debilitating symptoms, including chest pains and shortness of breath.
“Yet, my resilience never faltered, even as my condition remained undiagnosed until SEOF’s intervention,” he said.(NAN)
