Kumasi, Feb.19, GNA - The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi on collaboration with the Cardio Start International Compassionate Medical Assistance, a heart surgery team from the US has performed a maiden heart surgery on six adults.

Afia Adowaah, 31, Juliana Amponsah, 41, Regina Boakye, Rebecca Asirifi, both 57, Georgina Pam, 63, and Afia Serwaa, 76, benefited from the free heart surgery, which costs 6,000 Euros at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

The team also performed two heart surgeries on Kofi Sarpong, 13, and Christiana Kyeremeh, 19.

Dr. Aubyn Marath, head of the U.S. team, told journalists in Kumasi that the initiative was prompted by an appeal made by KATH and that the group's duty was to help save lives of people in the developing countries through heart surgery.

Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Chief Executive of KATH, said the exercise was a preparation towards the establishment of a Cardio Centre at the hospital and to test the multi-purposed emergency centre commissioned last year. He appealed for the establishment of a fund to cater for patients who would not be able to pay their hospital bills and buy drugs after the free surgery.

Dr. Nsiah-Asare said thanked the team for supporting KATH to perform the surgery. 19 Feb. 09