A team of foreign specialist doctors from the ‘Take Heart Mercy Mission’ has undertaken a programme to perform free heart surgeries on 15 Sri Lankan children suffering from highly complex heart conditions at the Karapitiya National Hospital in Galle.
The surgeries, which are difficult to perform in Sri Lanka due to their complexity, are being carried out at the hospital’s Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit in collaboration with local medical professionals.
Deputy Minister of Health Hansaka Wijemuni visited the hospital today (22) to observe the surgical procedures and related medical activities.
During the visit, the Deputy Minister observed a heart surgery in progress and inspected the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, where the foreign medical team briefed him on the recovery of children who had undergone complex procedures.
Addressing those present, Wijemuni said that, in the past, Sri Lankan medical professionals had been able to diagnose certain highly complex heart conditions but had faced difficulties providing the necessary surgical treatment locally.
He emphasised that timely surgical intervention could significantly improve not only the lives of affected children but also the future of their families.
The Deputy Minister further stated that the programme is being conducted with the necessary approvals and in accordance with Sri Lankan regulations, without any financial burden on the Government, as the charitable organisation covers all expenses and provides the required medical equipment.
He also revealed that a complex heart tissue transplant procedure was performed today using tissue supplied through the Ministry of Health’s Tissue Bank.
Deputy Minister Wijemuni highlighted that the programme provides valuable opportunities for Sri Lankan medical professionals to gain experience, technical knowledge and specialised skills in performing complex cardiac surgeries.
The ‘Take Heart Mercy Mission’ charity was established 23 years ago to help save the lives of Sri Lankan children born with congenital heart defects.
The organisation’s international team of specialist doctors, nurses and technicians visits Karapitiya Hospital annually, working alongside local healthcare professionals to provide free life-saving cardiac treatment to Sri Lankan children.
Hospital Director Dr. Priyantha Athapattu, members of the ‘Take Heart Mercy Mission’ medical team and local healthcare professionals were also present during the Deputy Minister’s visit. (Newswire)
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