Date:04/08/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/08/04/stories/2005080401821900.htm

Back $2.5 lakh raised for children with heart ailments

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , Aug. 3

HRUDAYA and Cure A Little Heart foundations, the two recently formed charities in India and the US respectively, have raised $2,50,000 to take care of children suffering from heart diseases in India.

The charities are promoted by Dr Gopichand Mannam, a well-known paediatric heart surgeon, and his friends and corporates.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Dr Gopichand said the charities raised $2,00,000 during a fund-raising dinner held in the US in June. "We will be able to conduct surgeries on 200-250 children," he said.

While the US foundation mobilised funds, doctors and volunteers at Hrudaya would carry out screenings and surgeries. "We have already done surgeries on two children," he said.

"Two lakh children are born with heart disorders every year in India. Only six to eight per cent get medical attention, while 80 per cent die due to lack of access to medical facilities," he said.

Dr Gopichand said a concerted effort was needed to tackle the mammoth problem. "Volunteers from different walks of life, medical equipment manufacturers and doctors need to contribute their part," he felt.

Private hospitals had limited resources. "We need to have a number of echo machines to carry out screenings in rural areas. Equipment manufacturers can help," he said.