Hyderabad:  Sri E.S.L Narsimhan, Governor of Andhra Pradesh had a totally different experience when he paid a visit to Hrudaya Foundnation today to interact with poor kids and their parents who underwent Free Surgeries for Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD). As he was going around the ward from one kid to other, one little boy took him by shock.  Looking at him, Governor had tears in his eyes. Later while addressing the gathering he declared openly that he couldn’t resist crying, looking at the child.  The child was just born and is  21days old.  He is not even named.  Child of Salamma from Cuddapah, this twenty one days old child underwent Heart Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease two days ago.  It further moved the Governor, when Dr. Mannam Gopichand told the Governor that it was very difficult to operate upon such a few days old child.  Doctors’ hands could not reach the child’s heart, as his body was so small.  Doctors had to perform surgery with the help of instruments.  The boy is speedily recovering thanks to Hrudaya Cure A Little Hear Foundation.

Since its set up in 2004, The Foundation had performed 1240 Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD) free of cost for the poor children in the state. Which not may institutions can boast of. The operations were performed totally free of cost including the cost of  medicines and transportation.  The foundation has so far spent about Rs5.3 crore which it has raised in USA and in India through corporates and philanthropic individuals.

To mark the occasion and to celebrate the milestone achievement Hrudaya Foundation has organized a function in the premises of Star Hospitals which was graced by His Excellency Sri E.S.L. Narasimhan Governor of Andhra Pradesh.  He interaction with 50plus parents and children in the wards on their bed side.  He spent lot of time interacting with individuals, enquiring every parent about their kids and nature of operation.  Hearing their tales of trouble reaching this stage where they could get support, he was moved.

Later Governor addressed the gathering comprised of doctors, trustees of Hrudaya Foundation assembled in the conference hall.  He said heart is a very important organ.  If heart is alright everything will be alright. He felt sorry for the many young children below 12 years of age for their Congenital Heart Problems and their plight.

Adding further he stated that Health is Wealth.  All wealth is waste, if health is not there.  And deplored that health awareness is lacking in the country.  No one knows what is good health.  We have completed failed in creating health awareness.  He urged all the corporate hospitals to come together under one forum to create health awareness in the state.  He also requested some one to lead in convening a meeting of all the corporate and super speciality hospitals chiefs and heads.  And urged them to devise a method, where total population of the state can be screened at least for top 6 killer diseases .  If need, be I would also like to present at such a meeting, he assured.

He also urged hospitals to work towards minimizing hospitalization costs.  You need to look at how to reduce post operative care expenses, he told them. Doctor is the noble profession.  But unfortunately, the continuous allegations of medical negligence, fleecing patients, horrowful experience of hospitalization, overcharging, rushing into tests, procedures or hospital admissions, pushing patients to expensive options is shaking the confidence of patients he said.  He told doctors fraternity strictly adhere to their code of conduct.  Doctors are equal to god.  You are god almighty.  You are a 24×7 institution.  You are life saviour.  So help patients mitigate their sufferings.  Unfortunately because of few erring individuals, whole profession get a blame.  How do you overcome this perception, Governor asked them?

Earlier Mr. M. Yugandhar, Managing Director, Karvy Group and Trustee of the Hrudaya Foundation welcomed the gathering.  And said that the mission of the Foundation is to treat poor children with heart diseases and give them a fighting chance to live normal and healthy lives. To educate masses, to bring together healthcare professionals to deal with the problem and to build necessary infrastructure to sustain these efforts on a long term basis.

In the year 2010-2011, a total of 422 cases were treated wherein Hrudaya Foundation contributed Rs.1,46,56,462/-, Star Hospitals contributed Rs.1,43,72,397/- towards the surgery expenses of children. In previous year between April’ 2009 to March 2010 – 237 cases were supported in which Hrudaya Foundation’s contribution was Rs.84,75,344/- and STAR Hospital’s Rs.50,53,891/-, informed Mr. Yugandhar.

Hrudaya means heart. It hopes to light a little flame in your heart. Just in a span of six years, it has successfully facilitated the treatment of 1240 Free Heart Surgeries in various hospitals for CHD affected poor children, which not many NGOs can boast of. The managing trustees of the Foundation are comprised of Mr. M. Yugandhar, Managing Director, Karvy Group; Dr. Gopichand, Managing Director of Star Hospitals; Dr. Rajagopal Raju Alluri, Director, Care Hospitals and Mr. P. Jairaj Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director of Ocean Sparkle Ltd.

A lot of patients are suffering, says Dr. Gopichand Mannam, Chief Cardio Thoracic Surgeon, crusader of the cause, the founder and Trustee of the Hrudaya Foundation. We are ready to provide our service but we need more money to take it forward. The cause is closest to my heart. I can’t imagine children dying just because their parents cannot afford to give them the treatment they require, he laments.  And promised that they have set a target to perform 700 operations free of cost in next twelve months.

International Children’s Heart Foundation (ICHF) member Willim M. Novick spoke on the occasion and said India has the highest CHD population in the world.  Every year team members of International Children’s Heart Foundation visits Hyderabad to help Hrudaya Foundation in its crusade by performing critical operations.  Now a six member delegation comprised of William Michael, Roxanne, Amy, Frank, Jennifer, Christine from UK and USA have visited.   ICHF team presented an interactive session on how it has helped in innovative cost effective techniques in Pediatric Cardiac surgery with technology transfer to the medical professionals at Star Hospitals.

A Fund Raising Dinner is  scheduled on 9th September evening. The dinner is organised with a theme “Children are our Future. Let us try and give them a life. Give them a future”. Where Hrudaya Foundation will provide an opportunity for its guests to know of its past, present and future plans, how they can get associated with it and will also provide a glimpse of how their contributions have and will help in furthering the cause of the foundation informed Mr. Yungandhar, Managing Trustee of Hrudaya Foundation and Managing Director of Karvy Group.

India has a large population. With a incidence of congenital heart disease in 8 per 1000 live births in children, nearly two lakh kids are born yearly with this problem adding to the existing millions suffering from the disease. Of these 60,000 to 90,000 are critical and need early treatment. Nearly 10% of the infant mortality seen is due to congenital heart defects. Sadly, on an average only 6000 to 8000 of the two lakh affected children receive treatment. Nearly 80 percent of the infants die due to their parent’s inability to afford treatment. Each year about 1,21,000 cases of CHD do not even reach the age of 15 years due to lack of health awareness, poverty and inadequate healthcare facilities in India. An estimated 7,000 children with complex heart problems  are waiting for surgery in Andhra Pradesh alone, added Dr. Rajagopal Raju Alluri, another trustee of the Foundation and Director of Care Hospitals.

Globally nearly 2500 children die of CHD problems, 500 die in India each day

The number of centers capable of handling this is very few. At present there are just 14 institutions supporting a comprehensive infrastructure for newborn and infant heart surgery in India. All of these institutions have a busy adult cardiac surgery programs and much of the infrastructure is shared by both the adult and paediatric cardiac services. The total number of cardiac surgeries for CHD at all age groups in all centers combined in India approximates 6500 per year, of these only about one-fourth are in neonates and infants. This would account for less than 2% of the affected population of newborns and infants in India.

We need the community action to rid our country of the curse of Congenital Heart Disease.”

You can also donate online by logging on to its website www.hrudaya.com/donate.

For further information on how one can contribute, please get in touch with Ms. Archana on her mobile: 9948170404.