Burkina Faso has taken a significant step in healthcare with the country’s first-ever triple coronary bypass surgery.
This historic operation was carried out by Burkinabe cardiovascular surgeon Adama Sawadogo. After gaining experience abroad, Sawadogo made the decision to return to his country and perform this surgery.
Sawadogo explained that the patient was admitted to the hospital due to chest pain, and after a coronary angiography, blockages in the heart vessels were detected. “Performing heart surgery in Burkina Faso was a great success despite the challenges, and this marks a sign of vitality in the medical system,” he said. This year, around 115 open-heart surgeries and 17 closed-heart surgeries had already been performed at Tengandogo University Hospital.
The doctor also emphasized the importance of building a future Heart Institute in Burkina Faso. The institute will provide care, education, and research aimed at preventing and treating heart diseases. Sawadogo stated that the President of Burkina Faso would support this project, and he expects that hundreds of heart patients will be treated within the next five years.
Sawadogo pointed out that heart surgery, in addition to its costs, greatly contributes to the country’s healthcare system, stating that the quality of the healthcare system in a country where heart surgery is possible improves significantly. He also recommended better social security coverage, subsidizing surgeries, and reducing import costs to make progress in cardiology in Burkina Faso.
