The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Sattur children, first to be operated upon

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Sunday, Jul 06, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Sattur children, first to be operated upon

S. Sundar

They undergo heart surgery in Madurai

VIRUDHUNAGAR: Destiny would have played a cruel role in the lives of these children, but for the timely intervention of the State Government.

Thanks to the Chief Minister’s ‘Ilam Sirar Idayam Padhukappu’ scheme, S. Bharatraj, V. Muthukalai and P. Kalaiammal, in the age group of 5 and 9 years, are hopeful of leading a normal life like any other child.

These children from Sattur block, who had congenital heart disease, have the distinction of being the first among 100 other disadvantaged children in the State to undergo heart surgery under the scheme.

“The boys underwent surgery for atrial septal defect at Vadamalayam Hospital, Madurai, on June 29. Five-year-old Kalaiammal, suffering from infundibular pulmonary atresia, was operated upon on July 2. The patients are able to walk now and soon they will be discharged,” the Sivakasi Deputy Director (Health), S. Balasubramanian, said.

Earlier, the better

Patients with these heart diseases, if go unattended at the earliest, often lead a pitiable life and a distressful death, according to him. “These children would have developed complications beyond cure, if they were to undergo surgery at the Government hospitals in normal circumstances. It may also take years,” Dr. Balasubramanian, said. These surgeries would cost around Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh in private hospitals.

While the Government has taken care of the patients in screening them and paying the private hospital Rs. 70,000 for each patient, the management of Vadamalayan Hospital came forward to bear the expenses beyond Government’s assistance.

Under the scheme, the patient pays no money for any of the medical investigations, fee for surgeon, materials for operation, diet and other expenses. “We were able to perform the surgeries first in the State only because of the cooperation and kind gesture from V. Pugalagiri, Managing Director of Vadamalayan hospitals,” the Deputy Director said.

Social obligation

Dr. Pugalagiri said that he was moved by the children waiting for years for surgery at Government hospitals. “Moreover, it was a social obligation for all medical professionals to contribute their mite for the needy patients,” he said adding that he would continue to extend the gesture in future too to help distressed children lead a normal life.

Dr. Balasubramanian’s successful attempt to organise free heart surgery with the help of philanthropists as early as 2000 and subsequently in 2004 helped him to take a lead in the Chief Minister’s scheme.

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