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Saving Iraqi lives in Chennai
Chennai has not only become famous for its economical medical facilities but also for its altruism towards the poor, who are in desperate need of medical assistance, especially people from war-ravaged countries. As many as 20 Iraqi Children, who have a congenital heart defect, flown to India on February 27 for surgery, can be taken as an apt example of the city's medical generosity towards humanity.
Safeenaz Mahdi Ahmed came to know that her child Hussain Abbas had a heart defect when he started to eat less, slouched while he was standing, while his nails and tongue became blue. Hussain was two-years-old then. Not having enough money to get her son operated and due to non-availability of medical facilities in her own country (Iraq) to get her son cured, she was almost reconciled to losing the child. However, hope sprang thanks to Jonathan Miles who spent nine months in Northern Iraq with the US Army. Hussain, who is now five years old, will be operated for the heart defect in Chennai. Jonathan was able to see 130 survivors of neglected congenital heart diseases in the province of Kirkuk with a population of one million. He immediately mailed various cardiologists world over through Pediheart, a forum of cardiologists, seeking help for the operations to save these children.
Speaking to Chennaionline, Dr Cherian said so far six operations had been carried out and they had proceeded well. The remaining operations would be completed before March 11. Everyday, two operations are being conducted from March 1 onwards. Dr Cherian pointed out that a Jewish agency had brought Muslims from Iraq for their surgeries to be conducted in a Christian hospital in India, which is a secular country. On the cost of operation for a child, Cherian said the cost of surgery for every child would be around $ 3,500 to 4,000. He pointed out that the same operation if done in the US would cost far more -- around $ 40,000 and $ 35,000 in UK. The cost of the surgery would be high in the US and UK because of the complexity of the disease which had affected the kids. He said in all 48 children had been chosen for treatment in India including the surgery. Initially 20 children had come. Two children died in Iraq itself before they could be brought to India.
On the success rate of the surgery for the Iraqi kids, Dr Cherian said, “So far things are going on well and the rest lies in the hands of God.” Dr Cherian, who has carried out the first infant heart transplantation in India, said more such operations can be done for larger number of Iraqi children if the hospital received some government assistance. Sahar Shuker Hussai, mother of Hawraa who is to be operated shortly, said, “Indians are a caring and loving lot. We thank the Indians for loving us so much, particularly the hospital for providing free surgery for the children and facilities for others.” A Alimudeen
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Dr K M Cherian, a
pioneer in the field of paediatric heart surgery and chairman and
CEO of International Centre for Cardio Thoracic and Vascular
Diseases, came forward to conduct surgeries for 20 Iraqi congenital
heart defect children, free of cost.
