An Update from the Field: Saving Lives Through CHD Screenings in Nigeria
In June 2025, One Heart Health launched the expansion of the Digital Heart Sound Study in Nigeria. Our goal in the program is to ensure no child is left undiagnosed simply because specialized pediatric heart care is out of reach or hard to access.
Now, just a few months later, we have an update on our progress:
- More than 750 children screened across four partner hospitals in Nigeria.
- 5 children diagnosed with CHD, with each connected to lifesaving interventions.
- 8 additional children identified with suspected CHD, awaiting confirmatory echocardiograms.
That means at least five young lives already saved, with potentially eight more, thanks to the commitment of Nigerian doctors and the generosity of supporters like you.
Partnering with Hospitals Across Nigeria
Shown in our cover photo, our screening program is active in five leading medical centers across Osun and Ekiti States:
- Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife
- Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa
- University of Osun Teaching Hospital, Osogbo
- Federal Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti Annex, Ekiti State
- Urban Comprehensive Health Centre, Eleyele, Ile-Ife
By working directly with these doctors and hospitals, we are building out new standard operating procedures with the app and a strong referral pathway to pediatric care, ensuring that children identified with CHD are not only screened, but also connected to the care they urgently need.
As our medical partners continue screening, we stay closely connected with them by listening for ways we can strengthen support, refining the One Heart App to meet their needs, and celebrating the success stories of children receiving the care they deserve
The True Cost of Saving a Child’s Life
By combining the One Heart App, in-person trainings, and hundreds of screenings, we’ve gathered the data needed to break down the true cost of saving lives through these programs. Here’s how your support makes a measurable difference:
- It costs just $4 to screen a child for CHD, which is less than a cup of coffee.
- On average, it takes about $266 to screen, identify, and connect a child with CHD to lifesaving care.
For the children we have already diagnosed, this investment means the difference between a lifetime of complications or a chance to thrive.
Why It Matters
CHD is the leading cause of infant death from birth defects, yet it is highly treatable when caught early. In regions where access to pediatric cardiologists is limited, many children go undiagnosed until it’s too late. With the One Heart App and digital stethoscopes, doctors in Nigeria can now detect heart disease in minutes, at a cost that makes widespread screening possible.
Every statistic represents a child, a name, a smile, a family’s hope. And with your support, we can reach thousands more.
Join Us: Every Heartbeat Matters
We’ve only just begun. Together we can give these children the chance to grow, play, and live full lives.
Donate to the Nigeria CHD Screening Campaign
Your gift, whether it covers one screening or one full screening to lifesaving care, creates hope for children and families who need it most
