Totally Free Cardiac Skills Training Will Add To The Pool Of Global Talent

With the recently inaugurated Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani International Centre in Kharghar, which is going to provide paeditaric cardiac surgery free of cost, Sri Sathya Sai Health and Education Trust will also impart training to ASHA workers to provide the best of treatment to the needy. C Sreenivas, Chairman, Sri Sathya Sai Health and Education Trust reveals more in an interaction with Sanjiv Das

- Sanjiv Das

Recently, Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital opened a new facility in Kharghar (Navi Mumbai). What is its core objective?

The core objective is to holistically address the national burden of congenital heart disease by providing: (a) High quality totally free of cost child heart care (b) Ante natal screening and nutrition programme to reduce MMR, IMR and reduce number of children born with birth defects (c) Child health screening programme for early detection and timely intervention (d) Establish training centre for building capacity in paediatric cardiac skills which is scarce in our country.

How huge is India’s burden of congenital heart diseases in children? How is Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Centre for Child Heart Care in Navi Mumbai making a dent in this health issue?

As per Lancet Journal report, there are 300,000 children born every year in India with congenital heart disease. 25 per cent children die within first year of their birth due to inaccessibility, unaffordability and because they were not detected in time. The prevalence is close to 2.5 crore population living with congenital heart disease in India.

Sanjeevani Centre in Mumbai shall address this challenge by providing totally free high quality child heart care without any discrimination. Through its screening programme in rural areas, it will identify children at the right age and provide timely intervention. By providing totally free cardiac skills training, it will add to the pool of global talent in paediatric cardiac skills who can treat more patients across the world.

How do you pick your cases and ascertain its worthiness? How will you be able to sustain yourself in the long run?