Today, 15 December 2025, the University of Benin Teaching Hospital welcomed the CARDIOSTART International team from the United States for an in-depth needs assessment visit in preparation for a strategic collaboration on developing a sustainable open-heart surgery programme at the hospital.
Led by Dr. Emily Farkas, Cardiac Surgeon and Associate Director of Global Surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, the multidisciplinary delegation conducted a comprehensive assessment of critical clinical areas including the Main Theatre, Intensive Care Unit, and oxygen plant. Their evaluation focused on identifying gaps in infrastructure and equipment, with detailed recommendations to ensure that UBTH’s facilities meet the requirements for safe and successful open-heart procedures.
This collaborative approach underscores UBTH’s commitment to elevating its clinical capabilities and delivering specialised surgical care to patients who previously had limited options within the region.
The CARDIOSTART team was received by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Stanley Okugbo on behalf of the Chief Medical Director , Prof. (Mrs) Idia Nibokun Ize-Iyamu, alongside senior management team of the hospital, reaffirming UBTH’s leadership support for strategic partnerships that enhance specialised service delivery.
The visit builds on CARDIOSTART’s earlier engagement with UBTH, including medical equipment donations and collaboration with the Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit that contributed to the hospital’s historic first open-heart surgery in 2023.
The visiting team comprised highly skilled professionals: Dr. Emily Farkas (Cardiac Surgeon and Global Surgery Associate Director), Prof. Vinicius Nina (Cardiac Surgeon and Department Chair from Brazil), Dr. Melina Barg (Resident and CardioStart Mission Coordinator), Amos Dantene (Biomedical Engineer), and Ariyo Idowu (Cardiac Perfusionist and Technologist).
This engagement aligns closely with UBTH’s CARES vision to deliver advanced, patient-centred healthcare that is accessible and responsive to the needs of the community.
Through strategic partnerships such as this, UBTH reaffirms its dedication to enhancing specialised surgical services, building local capacity, and improving health outcomes for patients with complex cardiovascular conditions.
The assessment marks a significant milestone in UBTH’s roadmap toward establishing a robust open-heart surgery programme that will transform cardiac care within Nigeria and beyond.
