Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

A rupee a day saves many young hearts

Joyous moment: A jubilant ST. Srinivasan, centre, Lions District Governor, and S. Mohamed Rafi, second from left, former Lions District Governor, mingling with children who underwent heart surgery.

TIRUCHI: If not for the burgundy-coloured, three-centimetre-long stitches on the centre of chest, the 35 children would have looked like any other normal children, running around their mothers with glee.

All the children, between three to 12 years of age, hail from families that struggle to cope with their medical expenses. The cardiac problems for the children that demanded high-cost surgery was something their parents could not dream of. But for the financial support from Lions Club District 324 A2, the kids’ early childhood might have been restricted to hospital beds and treatment centres.

Through the project ‘Save the heart of young children,’ the club mobilised funds to support 35 children from economically backward section of the society. Like Barani, the youngest among the beneficiaries, whose mother is happy and relieved to see her son playing actively.

“Doctors say the hole in the cardiac valve is mended temporarily. If the problem persists, he has to undergo implantation of artificial heart valve after 15 years. We hope he doesn’t need any further surgery,” she says.

Madras Medical Mission Hospital conducted the surgeries at subsidised rates for the beneficiaries. Each member of the Club contributed a rupee each day for the whole year for the scheme. Philanthropists from other organisations and funds from State and Central government representatives helped the members to carry out the project. In all, the club received 50 applications and 35 were treated in the first phase, the Lions District Governor ST. Srinivasan said on Wednesday.

Former Governor S. Mohamed Rafi and district presidents K. Rajan and A.V. Aadhi coordinated the project.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Energy Excellence Exhibition to roll out in September
A rupee a day saves many young hearts
Workshops to sensitise public about mentally challenged
Mettur level
Howrah Express cancelled
‘Flood prevention project within two years’
Applications sought for speed post agents
VC vows varsity support for bio-fertilizer
Consumer activists stage demonstration
“Monitor progress of works on daily basis”
69 criminals nabbed in eight districts
Tiruchi chosen as pilot district
Property tax revision in full swing
Kakkan remembered
Tiruchi today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu