A significant number of young lives have been positively impacted as a seven-month-old baby and a 10-month-old infant are among 13 children who underwent life-saving heart surgeries this week. These critical operations took place during the 25th surgical mission at the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital in Nasese, Suva, facilitated by a specialized team from Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.
The charitable foundation Healing Little Hearts, based in the UK, collaborated with the hospital for this mission. The surgical team was led by Dr. Prem Venugopal, a respected cardiothoracic surgeon from the Queensland Children’s Hospital. The initiative received support from the Ministry of Health, encompassing partnerships with CWM Hospital, Labasa Hospital, and Aspen Lautoka Hospital. All 13 patients who received life-saving care are from Fiji.
One of the parents benefiting from this initiative is the mother of seven-month-old Yuvaani Chand, who resides in Pacific Harbour. She expressed deep gratitude towards the hospital for saving her child, while encouraging other parents to seek medical assistance without hesitation. “A lot of parents are afraid of what will happen to their child,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of pursuing help. “I am encouraging them to just get their children to Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital and have them checked and treated.”
The mother reflected on her positive experience during their stay, noting that in just three days, her daughter was on the path to recovery. She praised the hospital environment, mentioning how the supportive staff fostered a sense of comfort and positivity. “We are grateful and blessed to have this children’s hospital, which has no billing counter and provides treatment and care absolutely free of charge,” she said.
This heartwarming account highlights the compassionate work being done at the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital and serves as a reminder of the vital importance of access to life-saving medical care for children in Fiji. It reflects a collaborative spirit of medical professionals from various countries dedicated to improving the health and lives of young patients in need.