Twenty kids from the African nation to be treated of their heart ailments by a city cardiac hospital, free of cost
Twenty kids from the African nation to be treated of their heart ailments by a city cardiac hospital, free of cost
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Hope is alive: Amumpire Gabriel Katwebaze, 2, with his mother |
Meet Amumpire Gabriel Katwebaze. The two-year-old from Uganda has a weak heart but the 'Dilwalo ki Dilli' is set to give him a new lease of life. And, he is not alone.
Nineteen other kids will soon follow in the steps of Gabriel.
The two-year-old will undergo heart surgery at the capital's premier heart specialty hospital Escorts, which has agreed to treat the children free of cost. The Rotary Club and the hospital will together bear the expenditure of the treatment.
Gabriel is part of the first batch of four children, who accompanied by their parents, arrived in the capital yesterday. The three others are 11-month-old Asiimwe Auleria Nyangoma, two-year-old Okwayenda Abigaba and 13-year-old Ndagire Catherine.
These children have been admitted into paediatric ward of Escorts Heart Institute under the direct supervision of Dr K S Iyer, Director, Paediatric Cardiac Surgery and a team of experts comprising heart specialists, physicians and nurses. Another 16 children will arrive in Delhi in the next few weeks.
"Back home the medical facilities are not good. Doctors in our country referred us to India but the best thing is that here our children will be treated free of cost. I am so happy that my son is in safe hands," Angeila, Gabriel's mother, told MiD DAY.
Dr. KS Iyer, Director, Paediatric Cardiac Surgery of Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre said: "Approximately eight out of every 1000 children born anywhere in the World suffers from Congenital Heart Disease. Congenital Heart Disease contributes significantly to infant mortality in all parts of the World. However, today in all developing countries these children don't have access to treatment due to lack of facilities or inability to meet the costs of the surgery. We are glad that through this association with Rotary International we will able to help a small proportion of these children to lead new lives."
