It is estimated that in Sri Lanka, for every 1,000 newborns, there are 6-8 born with Congenital Heart Defects (CHD). A total of 329,000 live births occur in Sri Lanka and as a result 2,000-2,700 children are born with CHD each year. Two thirds of them (about 1,300-1,800) would need surgery/intervention for their heart lesions to be corrected. With treatment, 85-90% of them reach adulthood.
Rob Raylman, CEO of Gift of Life International, during his recent visit to Sri Lanka met the Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and assured the organization’s support for the waiting list of Children with CHD at the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital in Colombo.
The Rotarian-based organisation operating with a global mission ‘To heal the failing hearts of thousands of children’ was established in Sri Lanka in 2016. With the generous funding of donors, 23 surgeries have been performed on children with CHD. With this initiative, the children can undergo heart surgery before they reach adulthood.
The ‘After working hour cardiothoracic surgery’ program funded by the Gift of Life Sri Lanka organisation pays US$ 1,000 per surgery performed at the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital. Furthermore, a two phase nurse training program is conducted at the Lady Ridgeway to enhance the skills of the Critical Care nurses to improve patient outcomes.
Commenting on the visit, Rob Raylman said “We are proud to see the commitment and the leadership displayed by local health professionals towards this cause. Since 1975, through our global network of caring, we have provided hope to more than 30,000 children with the help of our 81 affiliates around the world.”
Raylman also extended his gratitude to Director, Gift of Life International, Jay Liyanage, Attorney-at-Law Nithi Murugesu for creating the framework for Gift of Life Sri Lanka, Vice Chairman Asoka Wickramasinghe for facilitating the meeting with the Minister of Health, Director Doulat Kundanmal who put the initial effort during the GOL-SL formative stage, DGN Karunakaran for assisting with fund raising initiatives, Dr. Ramasubbu, who was instrumental in fundraising and innovated the alternative location site at Asiri Surgical Hospital, Rotary Club President Chamath Kulasinghe, Tara Cooray, Directors Nimal Samrakkody and Rajiv Walpita, Niran Nugara and Theresa, Nedra Wickremasinghe, Heinz Reuter, and Honorary Rotarian Zarani and his camera crew for capturing every child treated.
The Gift of Life Sri Lanka is committed to working towards establishing a sustainable medical community in the country by assisting underprivileged children, healthcare professionals and other relevant health professionals with nutritional food, skills transfer, state-of-the-art essential equipment, as well as supplemental supplies.