KOCHI: Paris-based international charity organisation ‘The Heart Fund’ is collaborating with Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) Kochi, to provide free, life-saving open-heart surgeries and endovascular treatments to the poor in India. So far, 20 children have benefitted from this programme.
“AIMS is the first and only medical facility in India to have been selected for this mission for its proven track-record in cardiovascular procedures,” said Dr David Luu, president of The Heart Fund, heart surgeon and director of the Heart Health Program at NYC Surgical in New-York.
The Heart Fund will provide sustainable and long-term assistance to AIMS for free heart surgeries for children, educational and scientific exchanges, creating global awareness on cardio-vascular diseases in India and upgrade technical facilities to develop a heart transplant programme such as Heart and Lung Machine or Ventricular Assistance Device, said Dr Luu. “The Heart Fund contributes to the surgical costs and endovascular procedures for 20 patients,” said Dr Krishna Kumar, head of the Paediatric Cardiology Department at AIMS.
American actor Gary Dourdan known for portraying Warrick Brown in the television series CSI and international supermodel Alina Baikova are the brand ambassadors to raise awareness on cardiovascular diseases and funds to finance children’s surgeries. Between 3-10% of the present infant mortality may be attributed to congenital heart disease. Between 1-8 of every 1000 school going children have rheumatic heart disease.