Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II gave an audience to families and their children who have survived a hole in the heart disease.- Herbert Mensah secretary of the Children’s Heart Foundation write.
MAY 9
Our finale was being granted audience to see Otumfuo. A few years ago we brought a young man with a hole in heart condition to see Otumfuo. Otumfuo was incredibly gracious and gave us hope never to give up!
This year's May 9 celebrations was held in conjunction with the Shen Yang & Shen Yuet Hole in the heart foundation! Since January last year the foundation has assisted with 35 operations to help children from all over Ghana.
"The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II gave an audience to families and their children who have survived a hole in the heart disease under the auspices of the May 9 Foundation in collaboration with the Shen Yuet and Shen Yang Children Heart Foundation.
The visit came in the midst of the silver jubilee celebrations of the Ashanti King, who is currently receiving visitors from all over the world, including visiting Presidents, diplomats, chiefs, and other traditional and political leaders.
More than 35 children have undergone successful surgeries at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital’s cardiothoracic unit in the past year to cure their hole in the heart disease.
The Shen Yuet and Shen Yang Children’s Heart Foundation, founded by Y.C. Shen, head of the SUNDA group of companies, came to the rescue of these children whose families could not afford the high cost of the surgeries. Although a few children could not make it through the surgical procedure due to delayed intervention, close to 30 children survived and are now living normal lives.
"Herbert Mensah, who is the secretary of the Children’s Heart Foundation, led the delegation, which included families and their children who benefited from the hole in the heart surgeries, Erica Amoako, administrator of the Children’s Heart Foundation, Lucas, the managing director at the Kumasi Branch of SUNDA, as well as Rafatu Inusah and Sacut Amenga-Etego, who are all involved in coordinating activities of the Shen Yuet and Shen Yang Children’s Heart Foundation in collaboration with the May 9 Foundation to meet and greet the Asantehene on his Silver Jubilee.
The occasion also coincided with the 23rd anniversary of the Accra stadium disaster, which occurred on May 9, 2001, at a time when Herbert Mensah was chairman of Asante Kotoko, of which the Asantehene is the life patron.
The Asantehene, who made time to see the delegation during an extremely busy period, praised Herbert Mensah and the Shen Yuet and Shen Yang children’s heart foundation for putting smiles back on the faces of several children and their families with their philanthropic intervention. He also took time to interact with some of the beneficiary children.
He continued, ‘’the entire costs is covered by the Shen Yang & Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation which was started by Mr. Y.C Shen. As secretary of this children’s heart foundation I can tell you that we intend to do between 20 and 30 surgeries every year for the next 10 years.’’
The King, himself is a philanthropist and fan of children, encouraged the Children’s heart foundation to continue to help more children and their families and offered to see the delegation again at a later and less busy period.
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