Paris-based international charity organization The Heart Fund has tied up with Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi to provide free life-saving open-heart surgeries and endovascular treatments to poor in India.
So far, 20 children have been benefitted through this collaborative mission.
"AIMS is the first and only medical facility in India to have been selected for this mission for its proven track-record in cardiovascular procedures," said Dr. David Luu, President of The Heart Fund and New York-based heart surgeon.
The Heart Fund will provide sustainable and long-term assistance to AIMS for free heart surgery for children, educational and scientific exchanges, help create global awareness on cardio-vascular diseases in India and upgrade technical facilities to develop a heart transplant programme such as Heart and Lung Machine or Ventricular Assistance Device, said Dr. Luu.
"The Heart Fund contributes to the surgical costs and endovascular procedures for 20 patients," said Dr. Krishna Kumar, Head of Paediatric Cardiology Department at AIMS.
American actor Gary Dourdan - known for portraying Warrick Brown in the television series CSI and international supermodel Alina Baikova are the brand ambassadors to raise awareness on cardiovascular diseases and fund to finance children's surgeries.
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Approximately one in every 120 children is born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) in India - approximately 250,000 children born with congenital heart defects every year. Congenital heart defects include a number of conditions.
There are hundreds of types and making a precise diagnosis is sometimes quite challenging. Approximately 80,000 newborns with congenital heart disease would require intervention during the neonatal period or infancy each year.
Between three and ten per cent of the present infant mortality may be accounted for congenital heart disease. Between 1-8 of every 1000 school going children have rheumatic heart disease in certain parts of the country.
Care of children with heart problems is challenging. A high level of skill, commitment and coordination is necessary among the team of healthcare professionals who specialize in this endeavor.
Team members include pediatric cardiologists, pediatric heart surgeons, anesthesiologists and intensive care experts and specialized nurses.
Advanced hospital infrastructure, quality equipment and efficient and robust systems are needed to support peadiatric cardiac care.
Amrita Hospital and University was set up in 1998. It is a super speciality hospital providing primary and specialty care medical services. The daily patient volume is about 3000 out patients with 95 percent in patient occupancy. Annual patient turnover touches an incredible figure of over 779,055 outpatients and nearly 47,577 inpatients.
AIMS extensive infrastructure offers facilities comprising 25 modern operating theatres, 210 equipped intensive-care beds, a fully computerized and networked Hospital Information System (HIS), a fully digital radiology department, NABL accredited clinical laboratories and 24 / 7 telemedicine service. Amrita Hospital and University features one of the most advanced hospital computer networks in India.