700 kids with congenital heart defects rectified
Posted on: 22/Sep/2014 10:47:57 AM
Aishwarya Trust, an NGO working towards creating awareness about congenital heart defects (CHD), in collaboration with Fortis Malar Hospitals on Saturday celebrated the completion of 700 successful cardiac surgeries performed free of cost on underprivileged children.
Studies show that 8 in every 1000 children are born with CHD and 85% of them die because parents cannot afford corrective surgery. Fortis Malar Hospitals director (cardiac sciences) Dr K R Balakrishnan said, "CHD is the most common birth defect, responsible for one-third of all birth defect-related deaths. But the access to corrective surgery is very limited and expensive." It is not possible for the government alone to meet the challenge and it is everyone`s duty to pitch in, he added.
Apart from helping kids get corrective surgeries, the trust and Fortis Malar Hospitals conduct free cardiac screening camps and have signed an MoU to offer super-specialty care in pediatric cardiology at the Rajiv Gandhi Women and Children Hospital in Puducherry.
