Author(s)

William Ngatchou¹, Sarah Heenen², Laurence Carole Ngo Yon³, Virginie Guimfacq⁴, Zephanie Kobe Fokalbo³, Alain Patrick Menanga⁵, Hermann Nestor Tsague Kegni⁶, Jérôme Bombhi⁵, Liliane Mfeukeu-Kuate⁵, Christian Ngongang Ouankou⁶, David Douglas Banga Nkomo⁶, Dzudié Anastase⁵, Félicité Kamdem⁷, Siddick Mouliom⁷, Viche Lade⁷, Valerie Ndobo⁵, Marie Solange Ebongue Ndom⁷, Junette Metogo¹, Joseph Sango¹, Aymard Kack Bilong¹, Philippe Gottignies², Diane-Estelle Ngatchou-Djomo⁸, Charles Mve Mvondo³

¹Department of Surgery and Specialities, Douala University, Douala, Cameroon.
²Intensive Care Unit, Iris South Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
³Department of Surgery and Specialities, Yaoundé 1 University, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁴Cardiology Department, CHIREC, Delta Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
⁵Department of Internal Medicine and Specialities, Faculty of Médicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁶Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Dschang University, Dschang, Cameroon.
⁷Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Douala University, Douala, Cameroon.
⁸Department of Health Economics at UNU-MERIT, Maastricht, Netherlands.

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its sequela, rheumatic heart disease (RHD), remain major causes of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Cameroon, RHD accounts for a considerable share of pediatric and adolescent heart disease. Severe valvular involvement often requires surgical intervention, but access to cardiac surgery is critically constrained. Since the 1980s, cardiac surgery in Cameroon has evolved from sporadic humanitarian missions to structured initiatives at the Douala and Yaoundé General Hospital and also the Shisong Cardiac Center. This article sheds light on the historical development and current state of cardiac surgery in Cameroon, emphasizing RHD as the leading surgical indication. It highlights both achievements and persistent gaps, and outlines perspectives for sustainability, including national training pathways, diaspora engagement, research and innovation, public-private partnerships, and South-South collaboration. Strengthening local capacity, securing sustainable financing mechanisms such as universal health coverage, and fostering regional cooperation are essential to build autonomous, resilient cardiac surgery programs in Cameroon. Addressing these priorities will be critical to improving access to timely surgical care and reducing preventable mortality from rheumatic heart disease.

Rheumatic Heart Disease, Valvular Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Cameroon, Sub-Saharan Africa, Universal Health Coverage

Ngatchou, W. , Heenen, S. , Yon, L. , Guimfacq, V. , Fokalbo, Z. , Menanga, A. , Kegni, H. , Bombhi, J. , Mfeukeu-Kuate, L. , Ouankou, C. , Nkomo, D. , Anastase, D. , Kamdem, F. , Mouliom, S. , Lade, V. , Ndobo, V. , Ndom, M. , Metogo, J. , Sango, J. , Bilong, A. , Gottignies, P. , Ngatchou-Djomo, D. and Mvondo, C. (2025) Heart Valve Surgery in Cameroon: Background and Perspectives. World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases, 15, 561-569. doi: 10.4236/wjcd.2025.1511049.