You too can save a child’s heart

Most children with single ventricle defect, a rare congenital condition characterised by large holes in the heart, are from the poorer sections of society.

Children who underwent corrective surgeries for single ventricle defect, a complex congenital heart condition, with Sangita Reddy, joint MD of Apollo Hospitals, in Hyderabad on Friday.– Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

It was only when they turned blue doing work that required a little exertion that they realised the seriousness of their condition. With large holes in their hearts, the children suffered from a rare congenital condition called single ventricle defect. They had to undergo a series of complicated operations called the Fontana repairs, to fix the problem. On Friday, some of them broke down, while others could not hide their happiness at the prospect of a new and healthy life.

Having completed 100 successful Fontana repairs through the last four years through the ‘Save a Child’s Heart (SACH)’ initiative, Apollo Hospitals organised an event with the children treated for the condition and their parents.

“The total cost of the operation is around Rs.3 lakh. Government initiatives cover 50 per cent of the costs and we waive bed and doctor charges. Even then there is a gap of Rs.75,000 which can be filled by donors,” said joint MD of the Apollo Hospitals Group Sangita Reddy.

She said there were around 70 young patients waiting for Fontana repairs while appealing to donors, individuals and corporates to step forward to help the ailing children.

According to statistics, 0.08 per cent of children in India suffer from single ve-ntricle defect and the most affected are those from the lower economic strata.

On the occasion, Ravi Krishnan, CEO and founder of Stepathlon donated Rs.5 lakh for the cause. He said Stepathlon had made donations of close to Rs.23 lakh in 2014 for various healthcare charitable initiatives.