Congenital heart disease (CHD) in Nigeria affects approximately 1 in 100 babies, with an estimated 24,000 affected children born annually. The most common types are ventricular septal defects (VSD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Key challenges include delayed diagnoses, high treatment costs, and limited specialized, life-saving surgical services.

3 year old Divine Okenyanmi from Nigeria was referred to Vidya Jyoti in May 2025, as her parents could not afford the 7 million Naira required for her open heart surgery. Divine was assessed at the cardiology department at Obafemi Awolowo University teaching hospital in Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, where she was accepted for surgery and a date of 22nd July 2025 was scheduled. Unfortunately, Divine developed complications pre operatively, which led to her death on 3rd July 2025.

Vidya Jyoti has decided to dedicate our paediatric cardiac surgery sponsorship programme in memory of Divine, who was to be our first sponsored patient in Nigeria. Through the Divine project, Vidya Jyoti hopes to fund this life saving open heart surgery for indigent patients in Nigeria.

The cost of paediatric open heart surgery in Nigeria is approximately £ 4000. In 2025, 3 children from indigent families, successfully had their surgeries sponsored by Vidya Jyoti. In 2026, we received a list of 10 indigent children, with a target of one child per month, alongside sponsorship of closed heart surgeries which are lesser in cost.