Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu called upon the UK’s team of doctors from Healing Little Hearts Foundation to set up paediatric cardiology hospitals in Vijayawada, Vizag and Tirupati.
The team of doctors from UK, along with the management of Andhra Hospitls, who along with Samantha’s Pratyusha Support, are providing free cardiac surgeries for kids, met Mr Naidu on Friday. Speaking to them, Mr Naidu said that the state government would extend all sorts of support if they will start hospitals in AP cities.
Appreciating the team of doctors, Mr Naidu said that the state government is strengthening paediatrics wing in the state and also special efforts are on to bring down mother-child deaths to single digit. He said surgeries on infants and children are very tough.
When the team expre-ssed interest to do the service on a large scale, Mr Naidu proposed to set up paediatric cardiac units in the state. The doctors told Mr Naidu that they chose India for their free surgery initiative and Andhra Pradesh eventually has more number of cases of children with cardiac issues.
Minister Dr Kamineni Srinivas, UK’s Healing Little Hearts foundation Dr Sanjeev Nichani, Dr Philip Arnold, Dr Joha Mohammed, Dr Nina Haal, Dr Phil Knight, Dr Kudumala Vikran, Dr D. Ramana, AP Medical Council chairperson Dr Y. Raja Rao, Andhra Hospitals MD Dr P.V. Ramana Murthy and others were present.
Minister stresses on paediatric surgery
Minister of health Kamineni Srinivas here on Friday appreciated the efforts of actress Samantha who took up the mission of getting children with chronic heart problems cured.
Mr Srinivas called on the children who underwent cardiac surgeries jointly sponsored by Samantha’s Pratyusha Support, city’s Andhra Hospitals and UK’s Healing Little Children Foundation here on Friday.
The UK team of 11 members, including doctors and nurses, which came here on November 29, so far operated upon 14 children in Andhra Hospitals and three operations are to be done on Friday.
Addressing a press conference, Mr Srinivas said that the state has acute shortage of paediatric cardiologists and has only one while there are very few cardiologists.
“It would be good if the government can do more to the affected children,” he added, saying that the efforts of actress Samantha, doctors and the hospital are helpful to a large number of children.
“I was told that she is very much involved in this and has been spending more than anyone for the cause. I heart-fully appreciate her,” he added.
“There are more than 90 children waiting to get operated and the UK team has promised to conduct such camps once in every four months. Though this comes under NTR Vaidya Seva, there is no hospital in the state that has paediatric cardiology unit,” said hospital managing director Dr P.V. Ramana Murthy.
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