�Save a Child's Heart' by Apollo Hospitals Group

The pediatric cardiology team at Apollo Hospitals Group had performed a rare heart surgery among 100 kids in the country in the last four years through the 'Save a Child's Heart' (SACH).

A complex congenital heart condition called single ventricle defect, where the section of ventricle is dysfunctional, very large holes in the heart and one of the lower chambers of the heart is often rudimentary.

Children with such condition would need multiple operations called fontan repairs to survive beyond a decade. In India, 3,000 to 5,000 children are born with single ventricle defects.

SACH was started to address all aspects of pediatric care, especially prevention, early detection, treatment, funding and follow up care.

Apollo Hospitals organized an event on March 13 at Hydrebad with the children treated for single ventricle defect condition and their parents.

Sangita Reddy, joint MD of the Apollo Hospitals Group, said, "The total cost of the operation is around Rs.3 lakh. Government initiatives cover 50 percent 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."

On the occasion, Ravi Krishnan, CEO and founder of Stepathlon, has come foward to support SACH, donated Rs.5 lakh for the cause.



Source: Medindia