Al-Balsam Concludes Medical Mission in Nigeria, Successfully Performing 112 Open-Heart Surgeries and Cardiac Catheterizations

Under the supervision of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), the Al-Balsam Association for Training and Health Development conducted a volunteer medical mission specializing in cardiac surgery and catheterization in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, from October 13 to 18.

During the mission, the medical team successfully performed 28 open-heart surgeries and 84 diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization procedures.

The mission forms part of KSrelief’s diverse volunteer medical programs implemented in several countries to provide healthcare to individuals and families with limited incomes.

The Al-Balsam medical team comprised 10 Saudi volunteers, including doctors, consultants, nurses, technicians, and administrative staff. They worked alongside 35 Nigerian medical professionals to provide treatment and care at the Nizamiye and Zenith Hospitals in Abuja.

The mission received generous support from the Embassy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Nigeria. His Excellency Ambassador Yousef bin Mohammed Al-Balawi visited the medical teams during their work, met with the staff, and expressed his support for the Al-Balsam Association’s efforts.

Ambassador Yousef bin Mohammed Al-Balawi received the medical team at the embassy, accompanied by his deputy, Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Tuwaim, and the Military Attaché, Colonel Abdullah bin Saad Al-Ahmari. The ambassador hosted a dinner in the team’s honor and spoke directly with the Nigerian Minister of Health, stressing the importance of facilitating the Saudi team’s mission in Nigeria.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Ahmari, Executive Director of the Al-Balsam Association for Training and Health Development, said the journey to Nigeria was far from ordinary. Before the team could even take off, its flight from Riyadh was postponed and later canceled. An alternative flight from Dammam was also canceled, with both disruptions attributed to attacks by the Houthi militia on civilian airports.

Faced with the choice of turning back or finding another route, the team opted for the more challenging journey, traveling by land across the King Fahd Causeway to Manama, then continuing to Doha before flying to Abuja. Upon arrival, the team headed directly from the airport to the hospital.

Dr. Al-Ahmari added that working conditions on the ground were challenging. The team had access to only one operating room and a single intensive care bed serving multiple medical specialties. Equipment sometimes broke down during procedures, while heavy rains caused further delays. Despite these obstacles, the team completed 84 interventional cardiac catheterization procedures, exceeding its target of 80, and performed 28 surgical operations. 

The Executive Director of the Al-Balsam Association thanked the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) for its humanitarian work worldwide across all relief sectors. He also thanked everyone who contributed to the success of the mission, particularly the Embassy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Abuja and the Nigerian Ministry of Health. He extended special thanks to the mission’s unsung heroes—the consultants, technicians, and administrative staff—whose dedication helped ensure its success.

Meanwhile, the management of the Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja presented the Al-Balsam Association for Training and Health Development with a certificate of appreciation in recognition of its outstanding contribution to the success of the humanitarian cardiac surgery and catheterization project at the hospital. The hospital administration praised the team’s medical expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment to humanitarian work.

The management of the Zenith Hospital and its Kidney Center in Abuja also issued a certificate confirming the completion and implementation of the operational plan for the volunteer cardiac surgery campaign. The certificate confirmed that all required cases had been addressed and that the campaign’s operational plan had been fully implemented. It also highlighted the medical team’s exceptional preparedness, meticulous organization, and adherence to the highest standards of professional care.

The campaign achieved remarkable success, with the medical team performing a range of cardiac procedures, including valve replacements, coronary artery bypass grafting, valve repairs, and other complex surgeries.

The initiative reflects the Kingdom’s continued commitment to supporting volunteer medical programs worldwide, helping alleviate patients’ suffering and providing high-quality healthcare in areas with limited access to advanced medical resources.