“We are very happy. As you just saw, we have just completed the first TAVI valve implantation in Senegal. It is a great source of pride,” Dr Ndao said, noting that the achievement comes after two years of intensive preparation and collaboration among specialists.

TAVI is a minimally invasive procedure used to replace a narrowed aortic valve that fails to open properly, a condition known as aortic stenosis. It is often recommended for elderly patients or those with high-risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, or age-related degeneration of heart valves, which typically causes shortness of breath and fatigue.

The intervention was led by Lieutenant Colonel Mouhamed Cherif Mboup and his team, who emphasised that this development places Senegal among a growing number of African countries adopting advanced life-saving cardiac technologies.

The successful procedure signals a new chapter for cardiovascular care in the country and offers fresh hope to patients who previously had limited treatment options.