48 children from Sangli district to get free heart surgery

Sangli: Under the statewide Seva Sankalp campaign, a free 2D echo screening camp for children was held at the civil hospital in Sangli through the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram. Held with the help of the district administration, the camp tested the hearts of 208 children from the district, and 48 of them will undergo free heart surgery at a hospital in Mumbai.

The camp was for children aged up to 18 who were referred after health check-ups in schools and anganwadis. Paediatric cardiologist Dr Jayashree Mishra of Balaji Hospital in Mumbai carried out the tests. Zilla parishad chief executive officer Vishal Narwade and additional collector Sushant Khandekar were present when the camp began.

The tests showed that 48 children need surgery. Another 35 have been started on medication, and 40 have been advised to come back for tests after six months. The process of sending the children who need surgery to Mumbai, with free travel, accommodation and meals, has begun.

The camp was organised in coordination by district health officer Dr Vijaykumar Wagh and district surgeon Dr Vikramsinh Kadam. The health department plans to complete check-ups in all approved schools in the district, and all referrals, by the end of December.

Source: Pudhari