‘A whole lot of heart’: Asiri Surgical celebrates with Free Heart Surgery recipients

Friday, 14 February 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Nine-year old Gautam had a happy smile on his face and a blue balloon in his hand. The smile on his father’s face was even happier. Ravikumar had brought Gautam along with his little sister to the Asiri Surgical Hospital to be a part of a special celebration. The Asiri Surgical Hospital was hosting underprivileged recipients and beneficiaries and the families of the Asiri Surgical Free Surgery Project to a celebration of thanks. The one-of-a-kind Asiri Surgical Free Medical Care Project is a CSR initiative that selects needy children for free medical emergencies and surgeries. A brainchild of the Asiri Hospitals Board of Directors and supported by Asiri Surgical COO Dr. Manjula Karunaratne, snr consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Vivek Gupta, Asiri Heart clinical director Dr. Anil Perera and anaesthesiologists Dr. Lushantha Padmasiri and Dr. Gayani Senanayake, this initiative has, since its commencement in 2010, performed over 40 heart surgeries on children.

The children were entertained by a magician, hosted to refreshments and attended to by the staff of the hospital during the day-long celebration. Also attending the ceremony was Dr. Manjula Karunaratne, Dr. Vivek Gupta, Dr. Anil Perera, nurses and staff. Speaking at the event, Dr. Gupta said that the Asiri Surgical Free Surgery Project conducts up to three medical surgeries each month. Patients are selected from a waiting list at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital in Colombo and from island wide medical camps conducted by the Asiri Hospital. These medical camps reach out to families in distant and rural areas who are inconvenienced by travel, are unaware of any medical abnormalities and are unable to finance any medical expenses. Dr. Gupta said, “If we can make a difference to a life, then this is what we will do. Every time we see a smile of a child who has been saved from life threatening illness, it makes it all worthwhile.” Dr. Anil Perera added that the hospital select committee identifies needy children aged up to three years. “We have undertaken to perform up to three operations every month and this includes ten days of free after care, medication and accommodation and facilities for the parents and consultations thereafter. The Asiri Medical camps are conducted across the island. These monthly camps help in early detection of diseases, conduct free testing and educate people about good hygiene and health. The entire team comprises 25 doctors, nurses and technicians. Apart from heart surgeries for children, repairs of cleft lips, and other congenital disorders have been corrected to date.