AZARIA FAREEN
Lifesaving heart surgery has commenced on some of our most vulnerable children at the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Heart Hospital Fiji situated in Muanikau Road in Nasese.
This follows the inauguration of the Hospital recently by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama who said the $25 million development was the largest project ever undertaken by any non-governmental organisation in Fiji’s history.
The hospital was built under the Sai Prema Foundation Fiji, a charitable organisation founded to serve the poor, underprivileged and needy people of Fiji through Medicare, Educare and Sociocare initiatives.
In acknowledging the wonderful initiative, PM Bainimarama said the hospital was born from the compassion and commitment of the Sai Global Federation of Foundations which delivers humanitarian services the world over.
“Despite the enormous challenges presented by the global pandemic, the Sai Prema team managed to bring in specialised equipment and technical expertise from around the world such as USA, Canada, Europe, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand,” Prime Minister Bainimarama said.
“The 54-bed hospital has a state-of-the-art Cath Lab, Operating Theatre, Intensive Care Unit, and Pre-operative and Post-operative Wards and will start helping to save young lives,” he added.
“The Sanjeevani Children's Heart Hospital also includes a Training Centre with technological capabilities for international Video Conferencing which will ensure that the Hospital stays abreast of the latest advancements in paediatric medicine.”
“Today happens to be my birthday, and I can confidently say that I can’t imagine a more important gift than to be here with you, opening a gateway to a better life for hundreds—and eventually thousands—of children,” the Head of Government added.
Approximately 200 children are born in Fiji every year with Congenital Heart Disease and the number skyrockets to 2,500 children if the entire Pacific region was included.
Sai Prema Foundation director, Sumeet Tappoo, in acknowledging PM Bainimarama for his leadership said the hospital was for the people of Fiji and the Pacific.
“Children will no longer have to go overseas for treatment which is now available at their doorstep and most importantly, this hospital does not have a billing counter and will never have it,” Mr Tappoo said.
“As the hospital opens, it has a three-pronged approach and a 5-point vision – to serve the children with compassionate health care free of cost, to ultimately have our own surgeons and medical professionals to be based at this hospital, early screening programs, implement genetic study and research and engaging leading healthcare professionals from around the world.”
From now until 6 May, there are 30 heart procedures will be carried out.
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