Cardiovascular diseases, often associated with adults, also significantly impact children in India, posing severe health risks and complications. According to the National Library of Medicine, 9 out of 1,000 babies are born with congenital heart defects (CHD). In India, over 200,000 children are born with CHD annually, with a staggering 20 per cent requiring life-saving interventions within their first year.
Vikas Kohli, Founder of the Child Heart Foundation (CHF), highlights the challenges in addressing CHD. "Out of 200,000 children born with CHD, only 20,000 receive surgery due to factors such as lack of infrastructure, shortage of pediatric cardiac experts, community awareness, health insurance for these diseases, and high treatment costs. This results in higher mortality and morbidity rates among the young population."
A recent CHF survey revealed that only 3 out of 32 MCD hospitals in Delhi had echo machines, causing delays of six months to a year for appointments and treatment. With 30 per cent of children requiring heart surgery within their first year, such delays can be critical.
Earlier this year, CHF inaugurated a state-of-the-art pediatric cardiac centre at Balakram MCD Hospital, with the presence of Mayor Smt. Shelly Oberoi and MLA Timarpur Shri Dilip Pandey, the company informed in a press statement on Wednesday.
The Child Heart Foundation aims to provide timely intervention and treatment for children with heart ailments through several strategic objectives. These include reducing morbidity and mortality rates associated with congenital heart conditions to improve the infant mortality rate (IMR), and spreading awareness and knowledge about pediatric heart disease to facilitate early diagnosis. The foundation seeks to establish a sustainable model of specialised cardiac care that can serve as a replicable framework for similar initiatives in Delhi and surrounding districts. Key activities supported by the foundation include setting up outpatient departments (OPDs) with state-of-the-art equipment, hiring and training pediatric cardiologists and support staff, and conducting community outreach programs. Additionally, the foundation plans to hold regular community medical and awareness camps in Northeast Delhi to emphasise the importance of early detection and treatment.
Kohli emphasised the initiative's holistic approach. "We aim to provide high-end, super-specialized pediatric care to a highly vulnerable age group. Our goal is to enhance pediatric cardiac care in Delhi by providing specialised, accessible, and timely treatment for children with heart diseases. Additionally, the OPD will raise community awareness about pediatric heart health, creating a more informed society and setting a benchmark for similar healthcare initiatives in other regions."
The Child Heart Foundation plans to establish partnerships with government bodies, NGOs, and private donors for ongoing funding. The next phase will include upgrading the facility with an ICU, CATH lab, and an OT. The team will also provide training to ensure the hospital becomes self-sustainable in handling pediatric cardiac cases in Delhi, setting an example for other states and leading to timely treatment for many more children, the press statement read.
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