The Shen Yang & Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation marked a significant milestone in its mission to combat congenital heart disease in Ghana, visiting the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and the National Cardiothoracic Centre.
YC Shen, the driving force behind this initiative and CEO of Sunda International, led a family expedition to assess the foundation’s progress since its establishment in January 2023.
This journey aimed to evaluate the foundation’s impact and explore new ways to enhance paediatric cardiac care in Ghana, reinforcing its commitment to supporting young hearts in the region.
“Our visit to Ghana has been incredibly enlightening and reaffirming, seeing all the children whose lives have been saved through our support gives me much joy,” YC Shen said.
“The progress we’ve made is heart-warming, but there is still much to be done. We are committed to continuing our support and expanding our efforts to ensure as many children as possible with congenital heart disease receives the care they need.”
About This Trip
The YC Shen family’s visit was facilitated by Herbert Mensah, a Ghanaian businessman who is also secretary of the children’s heart foundation. It was intended to evaluate the progress of the Shen Yang & Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation and determine additional ways to support the children and medical facilities in Ghana. It was also an opportunity to introduce his two sons Shen Yang and Shen Yuet to the work of the foundation and to prepare them for the future operations of the charity which has been named after the two.
The visit included in-depth meetings and tours of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and the National Cardiothoracic Centre.
Achievements to Date
The Shen Yang & Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation has made significant contributions since its establishment, including:
– Donating essential medical supplies to local hospitals
– Funding surgeries for 41 children, estimated at hundreds of thousands of USD
– Aiming to assist 20 children with heart surgeries annually
Meeting with Medical Professionals
YC Shen met with Dr. Entsua-Mensah, Director of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, and his team. The discussions focused on the benefits the Centre has received from the foundation and explored future needs and collaborative opportunities.
Dr. Entsua-Mensah expressed gratitude for the foundation’s support and highlighted the positive impact on 41 children who have so far received treatment with the support of the foundation. He disclosed that the Centre is the only one of its kind in the whole of West Africa that provides treatment and training of doctors.
YC Shen stated, “Our primary focus is on addressing the needs of the Ghanaian community at this time. We believe that by concentrating our efforts here, we can make the most significant difference and ensure the success and sustainability of our charity initiatives.”
He added, “The lessons learned and the successes achieved in Ghana could potentially inform future projects elsewhere. We could extend it to patients from Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast for example where SUNDA has operations, but for now, our goal is to continue making a profound impact in Ghana, providing vital support and resources to the families and children who need it most.”
The SUNDA CEO pledged the foundation’s support for 30 more surgeries in the second half of 2024.
Meeting with Families and Children
Tour of the Children’s Ward
During the tour of the children’s ward at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, The YC Shen family observed the medical facilities and interacted with young patients and healthcare staff.
This tour highlighted the hospital’s needs and areas where the foundation can offer further assistance. Doctors talked about the need to expand the intensive care unit to accommodate more patients as well as upgrade the bedding.
The YC Shen family spent time with families and children who have undergone heart surgeries, as well as those on the waiting list. These interactions provided valuable insights into the personal challenges and triumphs experienced by these families.
The team later moved to Kwashieman, providing a deeper understanding of the daily struggles and needs of families and their children with congenital heart disease, during which the foundation made donations of cash and assorted SUNDA products to the families.
Personal Motivation
YC Shen’s dedication to this cause stems from a profound personal connection that has inspired him to take action and help families facing challenging medical circumstances. The foundation’s mission is rooted in compassion and a genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of those affected by similar health conditions.
Besides this personal motivation, Mr. Shen also feels that the Ghanaian market has been great to the SUNDA group as the company now exports out of Ghana to Europe and South America, and for this, the company wants to give back to Ghanaians.
Future Plans
Following the visit, the foundation plans to launch several new initiatives aimed at providing comprehensive support to children with congenital heart disease in Ghana. In this regard, Mr. Shen pledged some new equipment to be donated to the cardiothoracic unit.
The Shen Yang & Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation remains steadfast in its mission to support children with congenital heart disease.
The visit to Ghana highlighted the foundation’s achievements and identified new opportunities for support and collaboration. The foundation invites the public to join in these efforts and support their mission.
