Imphal, September 28: To help children upto 15 years suffering from congenital heart and belonging to the financially disadvantaged section of society, Rotary Club of Imphal has embarked on its Heart to Heart project.

Addressing a media conference at the Rotary Bhawan at Mantripukhri today, president of the Rotary Club of Imphal, Dr Kh Palin said that congenital heart disease is the most frequent form of major birth defects in new borns, affecting close to 1 pc of new born babies ( 8 per 1000) .

It is estimated that about 20,000 children in Manipur are suffering from congenital heart disease, said Dr Palin and added that generally the children are weak and cannot play equally with their friends.

Many of them also die prematurely, said the doctor.

Most of these children belong to the low income group and cannot afford the costly corrective surgeries, said Dr Palin and added that on top of this, such corrective surgery facility is not yet available in Manipur and affected children have to be taken outside the State for treatment increasing expenditure.

It is to help such children that Rotary Clubs of 3240 Districts have taken up the Heart to Heart Project, informed Dr Palin.

Children upto the age of 15 and suffering from this disease will be taken for corrective surgery to reputed cardiac centres and the cost will be jointly borne by the patients, Rotary Club, NGOs and individuals, said the president of the Rotary Club of Imphal.

Since the economic condition of majority of the people of Manipur is low, Rotary Club of Imphal has taken up the responsibility, despite the limited resources, to help at least 10 children with cardiac problems, who will otherwise not receive the treatment in their life time. It is also important to start corrective surgeries while the child is still young, he said.

Spelling out the details of the mode of selection of the children, Dr Palin said that there will be screening for heart diseases from 10 am to 1 pm on October 5 at Rotary Bhawan.

Diagnosed patients will undergo free Echocardio-gram on a selected date, said Dr Palin and added that patients should be from Manipur with uncomplicated congenital heart disease (single defect like ASD, VSD, PDA).

The other conditions include patients not more than 15 years of age, parent's income up to only Rs 30,000 per year, parents should not be Government employees and must contribute Rs 10,000 to 20,000 towards the treatment and selected patients should produce three passport size colour photographs and copy of income proof of the parents.

On the cost of the corrective surgeries, Dr Palin informed that on an average each operation costs Rs 1 lakh.

Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing has committed to donate Rs 5 lakhs to help the under privileged patients, informed Dr Palin further.

The Rotary Club has appealed to NGOs, individuals and corporate houses to generously donate towards the cause.

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