In a colourful blend of creativity and compassion on Friday, May 31, 2025, the Access Heart Foundation hosted its first-ever therapeutic art event, Paint and Heal, at the Alliance Française in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The event brought together 25 stroke survivors and 25 children living with congenital heart defects for a unique healing session that combined art therapy with emotional and physical rehabilitation. In attendance were officials from the Ministries of Health and Tourism, Arts and Culture, alongside several healthcare and lifestyle partners.
Speaking at the event, Head of Operations at the Foundation, Lola Alli, said the initiative was designed to support the emotional and physical well-being of vulnerable patients through creativity.
“Paint and Heal represents our belief that healing extends beyond medical intervention to encompass the whole person. For stroke survivors, the art activities provided unorthodox but enjoyable rehabilitation that helped improve motor skills, while children with heart conditions experienced rare moments of joy and normalcy outside clinical settings with their parents,” she said.
A special guest, stroke survivor and CHD advocate, Ena Akwara, praised the programme, describing it as “an innovative way to make healing enjoyable and inclusive.”
The event forms part of the foundation’s ongoing “One Heartbeat at a Time” documentary project, which sheds light on healthcare challenges facing cardiac patients across Africa.
