Amrita Hospital, Kochi conducted a free screening camp for children with heart diseases in Trichy, Tamil Nadu. The event was conducted in collaboration with Bloom to Life, a US-based humanitarian organisation working to save the lives of children with congenital heart disease. On February 4th, specialists in paediatric cardiology provided diagnostic evaluations for approximately 150 patients.
Dr Sangeetha with Bloom to Life and Doctors Brijesh, Balaji, and Balaganesh with Amrita Hospital’s Department of Paediatric Cardiology screened the children. They especially focused on congenital heart defects, and around 50 patients will receive free treatments and surgeries at Amrita Hospital, Kochi.
“Amrita Hospital, Kochi, is committed to identifying children in need of heart surgery or catheter procedures and providing them with free care, including surgery,” said Dr Brijesh. “This philanthropic effort is made possible through the generous support of the Bloom to Life and Amrita Heart Care Foundation.”
The camp addressed the issue of congenital heart defects affecting over 2,50,000 children born annually in India, necessitating intervention for 25% within their first year. Barriers for their families such as limited resources, low awareness, and financial constraints deprive many children of timely medical care, impacting their chances of leading normal lives.
“Amrita Hospital’s Paediatric Heart Program has performed approximately 32,500 paediatric cardiac operations and catheter interventions. The hospital has extended free or subsidised care to 24,300 children so far,” said Swamini Bhaktipriyamrita Prana with Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM) in inaugurating the event.
As well, Thiru. Usha, Principal of Amrita Vidyalayam, Trichy (one of MAM’s English medium schools) welcomed all present, and Thiru. Gopinath, Principal of Amrita Vidyalayam, Tanjavurm, delivered the Vote of Thanks.
This initiative marks an expansion of Amrita Hospital’s outreach programs in Tamil Nadu as part of its Silver Jubilee Celebrations. Regular camps are scheduled for this area and additional districts within Tamil Nadu as part of Amrita Hospital’s broader initiative to offer essential medical care to those in need.
