The Walter Sisulu Pediatric Cardiac Center for Africa (WSPCCA) is located at the Netcare's Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa and is equipped to perform modern state-of-the-art pediatric cardiac surgery. It is a wonderful opportunity for me to upgrade my skills here under the tutelage of Prof RH Kinsley and his team. Prof and Mrs Kinsley appear in the frame below with Drs. Frank and Ama Edwin. It was Prof Kinsley's dream to set up the WSPCCA to offer much needed cardiac surgery to the indigent of the continent in the area of pediatric cardiac surgery and also to train pediatric cardiac surgeons for the continent. Needless to say, this is a unique opportunity for surgeons intending to practice in Africa as you get the best of two worlds - congenital heart problems as encountered in Africa (much different from that in the West) and the use of modern techniques to address these problems.

With the paucity of cardiac centers in Africa, the WSPCCA certainly fills a huge void in terms of service provision and manpower development. With a focus on training surgeons for the continent, this vision could not have come at a more needful time. We congratulate the WSPCCA team for a wonderful gift to the continent.

It was indeed my passion for pediatric cardiac surgery and for the children of my nation that ultimately led me to begin this 2 year sojourn away from my beautiful homeland, Ghana.

At this year's annual dinner, the CEO of the WSPCCA Mrs Lynda Bleazard (pictured above with Drs. Frank & Ama Edwin) was emphatic about the role of the WSPCCA in training personnel for Africa by Africans.

Dr Johann Brink (pictured above with myself and Lynda), my good friend and fellow Fellow in the program is a brilliant surgeon who trained in Blomfontein and has a passion for pediatric and congenital cardiac surgery. It is a privilege to work with such motivated and committed people.