Fortis Hospital, Mulund has launched ‘Fortis Child Heart Mission’ to provide heart surgeries and treatment at an affordable cost. Since the start of initiative in January 2013, reportedly more than 150 children with heart defects have already been treated successfully at the Fortis.
The ‘Fortis Child Heart Mission’, programme will provide treatment and also focus on educating pregnant mothers through education campaigns and health checkup camps across the state. To start with, health camps will be conducted in Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad, Kolhapur and Alibaug and in several smaller towns where medical facilities is out of reach.
Dr Vijay Agarwal, Chief Pediatric Cardiac surgeon, Fortis Hospital, Mulund said, “Our mission is to help ailing children and their families who cannot afford such expensive heart surgeries with the aim that no child goes untreated due to the lack of funds.”
Varun Khanna, Regional Director – (West & East) Fortis Healthcare says “We, at Fortis, are committed to the department to Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, and would like to make a sincere effort to help the children suffering from broken hearts. An average cost of a heart surgery ranges from Rs 1, 50,000 to Rs 3, 00,000. We have decided to operate these children and many more at a highly subsidised cost. Launch of Child Heart Mission will help all those kids, who are awaiting for surgery due to unavailability of funds” added Khanna.
Dr Swati Garekar, Pediatric Cardiologist said, “Through “CHM”, Fortis Mulund will be able to reach out to several thousands to improve livelihoods of several young children and their families.”
Dr S Narayani, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Mulund says “At Fortis we want to do our bit to help the society by helping the needy. This program is a step in the direction and we hope to reach out to many more children and ensure their speedy treatment.”
“We are thankful to Being Human – The Salman Khan Foundation in whom we have found the right partner to support our social initiative,” added Dr Agarwal.
Alvira Agnihotri, Trustee, Being Human: The Salman Khan Foundation said, “We receive several cases every month of children with congenital heart defects and were on the lookout for the right partner to provide a solution. We are happy to partner with Fortis Hospital Mulund on the “Child Heart Mission” initiative so that children with heart problems get the best possible care.”
EH News Bureau