African First for Heart Failure Care as Lenmed Wilmed Park Hospital and Heart Centre Performs Groundbreaking Cardiac Implant

Klerksdorp, South Africa | 6 July 2026

Patients living with heart failure in South Africa are set to benefit from another significant advancement in cardiovascular care following the successful implantation of Africa’s first MicroPort SoNRTip™ atrial lead for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) at Lenmed Wilmed Park Hospital and Heart Centre.

The landmark procedure, performed by cardiologist Dr Don Zachariah, marks the first implantation of the innovative technology on the African continent (using Cardexis) and reinforces the hospital’s position as a leader in advanced cardiac care.

Heart failure remains one of the world’s leading causes of hospitalisation, affecting millions of people and often limiting their ability to live active, independent lives. While Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy has become an established treatment for selected patients, the introduction of adaptive technologies that continuously optimise therapy represents an important step forward in improving long-term patient outcomes.

For people living with heart failure, even simple everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs or spending time with family can become increasingly difficult as the heart struggles to pump blood efficiently throughout the body. While existing cardiac devices have helped many patients, they typically require periodic manual adjustments and cannot respond to changes in a patient’s condition between appointments.

The newly implanted device is designed to overcome this challenge by continuously responding to the patient’s needs. It automatically adjusts the way it supports the heart as the patient’s condition changes during everyday life, helping the heart work more effectively without the need for frequent manual reprogramming.

For patients, this means more personalised treatment that adapts over time, with the potential to reduce heart failure symptoms, improve energy levels and exercise tolerance, decrease hospital admissions, and ultimately enhance quality of life. It also provides clinicians with greater confidence that the therapy is continually working to deliver the best possible support for each individual patient.

The result is a more personalised approach to cardiac resynchronisation, designed to improve heart function, reduce heart failure symptoms and enhance patients’ quality of life.

As Dr Don Zachariah advises “Heart failure isn’t static it changes over time, and patients’ needs change with it. This technology is exciting because it can respond to those changes automatically, helping us provide more personalised care and giving patients the best opportunity to live fuller, healthier lives.”

“Every advancement in cardiac technology gives us another opportunity to improve the lives of patients living with heart failure,” said Dr Don Zachariah. “Being able to offer this technology in Africa demonstrates our commitment to ensuring patients have access to world-class treatment without having to leave the continent. Ultimately, our goal is to deliver care that is not only innovative but also achieves the best possible clinical outcomes.”

The achievement is another milestone for Lenmed Wilmed Park Hospital and Heart Centre, which continues to invest in specialist expertise and cutting-edge technologies that expand access to advanced cardiovascular care for communities across the North West Province and South Africa.

“Innovation is only meaningful when it translates into better patient care,” said Mr Alex Daneel Chief Executive Officer of Lenmed Wilmed Park Hospital and Heart Centre. “This African first reflects the calibre of our specialists, the strength of our multidisciplinary teams and our ongoing commitment to making world-class healthcare accessible to the communities we serve. We are proud to continue setting new benchmarks in cardiovascular medicine.”

The procedure also highlights the growing role South African hospitals are playing in adopting leading global medical technologies and contributing to the advancement of healthcare across the African continent.

As cardiovascular disease continues to rise worldwide, investments in precision therapies such as Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy offer new hope for patients by enabling more personalised treatment, improving clinical outcomes and supporting healthier, more fulfilling lives.

About Lenmed Wilmed Park Hospital and Heart Centre

Lenmed Wilmed Park Hospital and Heart Centre is one of South Africa’s leading centres for cardiovascular excellence, providing comprehensive diagnostic, interventional and surgical cardiac services. Through continuous investment in technology, specialist expertise and patient-centred innovation, the hospital remains committed to delivering exceptional healthcare and advancing medical excellence across the region.

About Lenmed

Lenmed is a leading private healthcare provider committed to delivering quality, patient-centred
care across its network of hospitals and specialised healthcare services. Through clinical
excellence, innovation, and compassionate care, Lenmed continues to improve health
outcomes for the communities it serves. Lenmed currently operates in Botswana, Mozambique,
South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. For more information on the Group and Wilmed Park
Hospital and Heart Centre, visit our website www.lenmed.com

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