The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : New lease of life for two children

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Tuesday, Nov 11, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

New lease of life for two children

Special Correspondent

Thanks to Arogyasri the surgeries could be hastened

HYDERABAD: Two children who were operated upon successfully at Star Hospitals, Banjara Hills, here recently for a congenital heart defect joined the list of those who got a new lease of life under Rajiv Arogyasri scheme.

Fifteen-year-old P. Krishnaiah and P. Sekhar (7), sons of a temple priest in G. Yerragudi village of Tuggali mandal in Kurnool district could not lead an active life like normal children until help came to them in the form of Arogyasri, said Star Hospitals Managing Director M. Gopichand, who performed the surgery along with his team recently.

Diagnosis

Addressing a media conference along with Minister for Health Insurance G. Aruna Kumari here on Monday, he said though the condition of children was diagnosed three years ago and were enrolled by Hrudaya Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, for the surgery, they had to await their turn.

Thanks to Arogyasri the surgeries could be hastened. While the elder child was operated upon two months ago, the younger one who had abnormal vessels to lung had to be operated first to close them before carrying out the heart surgery for condition called Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV), Ventricle Septal Defect and Pulmonary Stenosis.

A revolution

Ms. Aruna Kumari said Arogyasri scheme had revolutionised delivery of healthcare to the poor by providing them access to corporate hospitals.

As many as 1.20 lakh surgeries were performed in government and corporate hospitals and a sum of Rs.388 crore spent under the scheme so far, Ms. Aruna Kumari added.

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