Fijian families would have to pay an excess of $100,000 for overseas treatment if their child has congenital heart disease, and aid while speaking at the first anniversary of Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital last Thursday.
“Science tells us that congenital heart disease is a birth defect common in children who are mostly from rural areas,” he said.
“I was also a child from a rural area, so I consider myself very fortunate to have lived my early years free from life-threatening diseases.”
He said the Sai Sajeevani Children’s Hospital stood tall because of the Sai Prema Foundation. “A registered non-profit charitable organisation that works towards building a general out-patient facility that focuses on mother and childcare.
“The $25 million pediatric facility is a matter of great pride as Fiji is the first country in the region to have such a hospital established. While it serves the children of Fiji, the Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital also opened its doors to children from across the Pacific as well.”
Mr Rabuka highlighted that prior to the opening of Sai Sanjeevani, there was no pediatric cardiac facility available in Fiji and Pacific.
Hospital director Dr Krupali Tappoo said that in a span of one year, a total of 141 children received lifesaving heart surgeries and as of last Wednesday, 214 lives had been saved.
“These are not just 214 lives but 214 families, who have been given hope, faith and have experienced joy and most of all love,” she said.
“This is the power of goodness and humanity. This is what we can achieve when the core principles are based on a foundation of love. Where there is love, nothing stands in its way – love conquers all.”
She added that apart from the children in Fiji, nine children from the Solomon Islands and four from Kiribati also underwent surgeries.
