When children living with congenital heart defects, stroke survivors and their families gathered at the British Residence in Lagos for Paint & Heal 2026, the focus went beyond art.
Hosted by the Access Heart Foundation, in partnership with the British High Commission, Lagos, the event created a safe and welcoming space where participants could express themselves through guided painting, share their experiences and connect with others who understand the realities of living with heart conditions and recovering from stroke.
The event was covered by Chidinma Omeh of ARISE News, bringing attention to the importance of creating spaces where healing can happen beyond the hospital environment.
Creating Access Through Information and Advocacy
Speaking during the event, Dr Folasade Alli explained that the Access Heart Foundation is committed to reaching people who have been denied access to healthcare by providing them with the information and advocacy they need to understand their options.
The foundation’s work goes beyond connecting people to medical care. It also seeks to help individuals and families understand what to do, where to go and how to advocate for themselves when faced with cardiovascular health challenges.
For children born with congenital heart defects, access to the right information can be particularly important in improving outcomes, especially for families living in low- and middle-income countries where access to specialised care may be limited.
Finding Comfort in Knowing You Are Not Alone
For parents caring for children with congenital heart defects, the experience can come with fear, uncertainty and emotional exhaustion.
Patience Godwin, a mother caring for a child with a hole in the heart, spoke about how traumatising the experience has been. But Paint & Heal offered something beyond medical information.
Meeting other parents, sharing experiences and gaining access to useful information helped create a sense of safety and reassurance.
For her, being surrounded by people facing similar experiences was a reminder that she was not alone.
Healing Beyond Medical Treatment
Simon Field, Deputy Head of Mission, British High Commission, Lagos, highlighted another important dimension of the event: the need to recognise healing as more than a medical process.
As he explained, healing is often thought of only in medical terms, but it can also involve emotional wellbeing, confidence, connection and self-expression.
Art provided a simple but powerful way for participants to reconnect with themselves, express emotions and find moments of joy outside the clinical environment.
More Than Just Paintings
While the participants produced beautiful pieces of artwork during the event, the paintings were only one part of the larger purpose behind Paint & Heal.
According to the Access Heart Foundation, the broader goal is to create greater awareness around congenital heart defects, shed light on the physical and emotional realities of stroke recovery, and build a supportive community where survivors, families and children can find connection and encouragement.
For many participants, the day offered an opportunity to step outside the routines and challenges associated with hospitals and treatment and simply be part of a community that understood their experiences.
Paint & Heal 2026 demonstrated that support for people affected by heart conditions and stroke can take many forms. Sometimes, it can begin with information. Sometimes, with advocacy. And sometimes, with a brush, a blank canvas and a safe space to say, “I understand what you are going through.”
The event was covered by Chidinma Omeh of ARISE News, highlighting the stories and experiences behind a gathering designed to show that healing can extend beyond the hospital walls.