The Ambassador of Canada to Côte d’Ivoire, H.E. Sandra Choufani, paid a courtesy visit on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, to the Abidjan Institute of Cardiology (ICA), according to a note consulted by Abidjan.net.

Welcomed by the head of the institution, Professor Kramoh Kouadio Euloge, she met with the Canadian medical delegation that has been at the ICA since November 22, 2025, as part of a pediatric cardiac surgery mission under a project known as the Cardiology Initiative.

During her discussion with the diplomat, the Director General of the ICA recounted the origins of the Cardiology Initiative, implemented in partnership with the Mitrelli Group since 2022. This collaboration has notably strengthened the capacities of the ICA’s medical and surgical teams through the performance of complex interventions on young patients. “We are proud to announce that thanks to this collaboration with Canada, the ICA is now capable of treating 90% of cardiovascular diseases affecting children,” he stated.

Revealing significant figures, he noted that since the beginning of the Canadian missions at the ICA in 2024, a total of 105 children have undergone surgery and 185 healthcare professionals have been trained.

Following her meeting with the Director General, Ambassador Sandra Choufani met with the Canadian delegation from Sainte Justine Hospital in Montréal, led by Professor Joaquim Miro. The Ivorian and Canadian teams introduced themselves and presented their respective roles in this important health cooperation initiative. Professor Joaquim Miro commended the high-quality technical facilities at the ICA, which make it possible to effectively manage most cardiovascular diseases in children in Côte d’Ivoire. He also highlighted the strong autonomy of the ICA’s medical and surgical teams.

For her part, Ambassador Choufani praised the joint efforts of the Ivorian staff and the Canadian delegation, emphasizing the importance of such collaborations in strengthening Côte d’Ivoire’s health system. She then toured various ICA departments, discovering the facilities and equipment, and took time to visit the first children who had undergone surgery.

According to the note, this visit underscores the excellence of the partnership between Côte d’Ivoire and Canada in the medical field and confirms their shared commitment to improving access to cardiovascular healthcare for the population.

Furthermore, the Cardiology Initiative, supported by the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage, the ICA and the Mitrelli Group, aims to position the ICA as a center of excellence for pediatric cardiac surgery in Sub-Saharan Africa.