Free Heart Surgeries For Haitian Kids at Health City Caymen Islands
Staff working at Haiti Cardiac Alliance, a U.S.-based non-profit organization that has facilitated cardiac surgery for 58 Haitian children and young adults, identified the Haitian patients as in desperate need of heart surgery.
Four Haitian children recently returned home after undergoing free heart surgery at Health City Cayman Islands last month.
The children, ages 6 to 16, flew into Cayman to receive the surgeries, which were performed by Health City cardiac surgeons led by Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, a senior cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, and Dr. Sripadh Upadhya, a senior pediatric cardiologist.
In order to offer the free surgeries, Health City teamed up with Haiti Cardiac Alliance and “Have a Heart,” a philanthropic organization formed by Harry Chandi and Manu Chatlani.
“When we met with Haiti Cardiac Alliance last year in Haiti, we realized just how great the need was for our services, especially among young people,” said Dr. Chandy Abraham, medical and facility director at Health City.
Staff working at Haiti Cardiac Alliance, a U.S.-based non-profit organization that has facilitated cardiac surgery for 58 Haitian children and young adults, identified the Haitian patients as in desperate need of heart surgery.
“Half have conditions that can’t be dealt with in Haiti because they are too complex.
These young people may also need intensive care after surgery,” said Owen Robinson, executive director of Haiti Cardiac Alliance.
“We are so excited to be working with Health City because we knew they would have the facilities and abilities that we don’t have in Haiti right now,” said Owen Robinson, executive director of Haiti Cardiac Alliance.
Mobile telecommunications operator Digicel facilitated the transport for the four young patients and their parents to and from the Cayman Islands.
Haiti Cardiac Alliance’s goal is to ensure that more than 100 children access surgery in 2015.
“Eventually, to keep up with the incidence, we need to reach a level where at least 500 children access surgery each year,” Mr. Robinson said. “There are at least 50 kids among those on our list who are at high risk of death within the next six to nine months if we cannot get them the care they need.”
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