Rotary District 3220 launches “Rotary for Little Hearts” to raise $ 1 m for paediatric cardiac care

“Rotary for Little Hearts” Project Chair Dinali Dandeniya, LRH Director Dr. G. Wijesuriya, District 3220 District Governor 2024/2025 Sushena Ranatunga, Consultant Cardiologist and Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians President 

Dr. Duminda Samarasinghe

Rotary District 3220, encompassing Sri Lanka and the Maldives, proudly announces the launch of the “Rotary for Little Hearts” initiative. 

This ambitious project aims to raise $ 1 million to expand paediatric cardiac care and intensive care services at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) in Colombo. The primary objective of this initiative is to ensure that every child in Sri Lanka has access to timely, compassionate, and world-class cardiac care, enabling them to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

The Little Hearts Children’s Hospital project is focused on addressing critical gaps in paediatric cardiac care at LRH. This will involve several key initiatives such as increasing ICU capacity by expanding the number of ICU beds to meet international standards, ensuring that critically ill children receive the care they need without delay, and enhancing surgical facilities by increasing the capacity for cardiac surgeries and interventions to provide timely treatment for children with heart disease. The hospital will also drastically reduce mortality rates by ensuring timely and adequate treatment for children with heart disease and critical illnesses, thereby reducing the infant mortality rate.

Speaking at the event, District 3220 District Governor 2024/2025 Sushena Ranatunga said: “Rotary International is a global network of volunteers dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges; we are committed partners in this endeavour. The project is led by three Rotary Clubs in Sri Lanka – Rotary Clubs of Colombo Metropolitan, Colombo Fort, and Colombo West – each with a long-term engagement and relationship with the LRH. Rotary thrives on partnerships, and the magnitude of this goal necessitates the support and collaboration of like-minded individuals and organisations. Today, we are proud to officially launch our partnership with the LRH and the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, and with the official launch of the ‘Rotary for Little Hearts’ website, we are actively seeking the public’s involvement in our mission to make a lasting impact on the critical care complex of LRH.”

“Rotary for Little Hearts” Project Past President and Chair Dinali Dandeniya expressed her heartfelt commitment: “I am deeply honoured to spearhead our collective mission to achieve a monumental goal – raising $ 1 million to save the lives of children born with congenital heart disease. For over a decade, the Rotary movement in Sri Lanka has partnered with the LRH to address the urgent need for congenital heart surgeries. As someone born with congenital heart disease myself, this cause is profoundly personal to me. As Rotarians, we take immense pride in having facilitated over 350 successful congenital heart surgeries, providing lifesaving treatment to underprivileged children across Sri Lanka. Our initiatives have not only saved lives but also brought hope to countless families.”

Consultant Cardiologist and Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians President Dr. Duminda Samarasinghe talked about the situation in Sri Lanka: “Congenital heart defects are common in Sri Lanka, with around 3,000-3,500 children born every year with these conditions. Of these, 1,400-1,600 require open-heart surgery and another 800 need catheter-based interventions. With timely and proper treatment using modern diagnostic, interventional, and surgical techniques, over 95% of these defects can be effectively treated, allowing children to reach adulthood without further complications. However, the cost of these surgeries, which can range from Rs. 1 million to Rs. 3 million, is a significant barrier for many families. With the completion of Little Hearts, LRH’s Cardiac and Critical Care Complex will allow the hospital to provide timely treatment to our children in need.”

Speaking at the event, LRH Director Dr. G. Wijesuriya said: “At LRH, our mission is to provide the best paediatric care for children in Sri Lanka. With guidance from the Health Ministry and collaboration with donors like Rotary District 3220, we strive for high standards and continuous staff training. Rotary’s support, including the ‘Rotary for Little Hearts’ initiative, has been invaluable in enhancing our cardiac care services. Together, we aim to become South Asia’s leading children’s healthcare centre by 2025, providing timely and top-quality care.”

Ranatunga further added: “Rotary District 3220 has stepped in to support and enable children to receive the surgeries they need, whether performed locally or, in the case of more complicated conditions like Tetralogy of Fallot, in India. Rotary Sri Lanka also sponsors the expenses of travel, hospitalisation, surgery, and accommodation for the child and one parent for a stay of 15-21 days in India. The children who benefit from these surgeries are chosen from a waiting list at LRH, and endorsed by the consultant medical team. Thus far, 100 children have benefitted from this initiative in the last year alone. We hope with our support of helping LRH complete the Little Hearts Hospital, no child in Sri Lanka will be left behind without a heart surgery by 2025.”