Rotary's gift of life to CHD children
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newman News Network

Imphal, December 04 2012: At least one out of every thousand children born in the world suffered from Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).

Children from Manipur who have inherited the disease are sending to New Delhi for surgery free of cost, thanks to Rotary Club of Imphal.

"Rotary Club of Imphal first began to make available free surgery to children suffering from CHD in the year 2008 under a project entitled "Heart to Heart" and such children are sent to New Delhi for operation after conducting pathological test," Chingangbam Dhananjoy, secretary, Rotary Club of Imphal informed Newmai News Network on Tuesday.

He said a total of 86 children with CHD in Manipur have undergone surgery so far since the inception of the project based on "service to mankind" .

All the children except only two children were successful while conducting surgery till now, he said.

The operations were conducted at Fortis Escorts Hospital, National Heart Institute and Pushpanjali Hospital, all based in New Delhi.

However, the facility being provided by Rotary Club of Imphal can be availed only by children belonging to BPL families and who are below 18 years of age, said Wahengbam Kenneth, chairman, Public Relations, Rotary Club of Imphal.

Among the Rotary Clubs in South East Asian countries, the Rotary Club of Imphal is the first ever club to take up such project.

For this project, the Rotary Club of Imphal has also been conferred with 'Best Rotary Club Award 2012' by Rotary International.

Six more children suffering from CHD were recently sent to New Delhi for surgery, he said.

These children are part of the 53 selected children who are to undergo surgery within the period July 1, 2012-June 30, 2013, he further informed and said 44 more children will be sent to New Delhi for surgery.

Around Rs 2-3 lakh is spent in such operation per one child and all the money is donated by members of Rotary Club of Imphal.

However, some MPs, ministers and MLAs also from time to time generously donate money for the purpose, he added.

Rotary Clubs in South East Asian countries like Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand have kindly rendered support to the Heart to Heart project, Kenneth said.

Kenneth said the Rotary Club of Imphal has begun working on taking up the Heart to Heart project throughout South East Asia as a joint venture after collaborating with another project called "Gift of Life" .

Saying that around 10,000 children are believed by the Rotary Club of Imphal, to be suffering from CHD in Manipur, Kenneth announced that the club will continue to make available free surgery to such children.

Comment