Sunil Gavaskar, legendary cricketer and trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust, has made supporting the cause of CHD his new innings in life.
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NEW DELHI, India (India CSR): Delhi-NCR-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), The Hans Foundation (THF), and Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust said that they will work together to support cost-free heart surgeries to 300 underprivileged children over the next year. The cause is championed by Mr. Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary cricketer, and trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust, who has made supporting the cause of congenital heart disease his new inning in life.
Working to improve the quality of life of underprivileged children across India, THF, under its Little Hearts Program partners with several leading hospitals in the country with the objective to provide comprehensive medical support to children who are suffering from Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).
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Over 3000 successful surgeries across India
Ever since its inception in 2013, the Little Hearts Program has facilitated more than 3000 successful surgeries across India. With an aim to provide comprehensive medical support the initiative aims to reach 4500 children this year. Under its new objective, the collaboration between THF and Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust will ensure assistance to more than 300 children at the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospitals in Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Maharashtra.
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Children are precious gifts of God, say Sunil Gavaskar
“I am extremely grateful to support this noble initiative. Children are precious gifts of God and we must ensure that every support is available to them that is necessary in their nurturing. The unique part of Little Hearts Program initiative is that it provides assistance to children who would otherwise find difficult to battle severe heart complications owing to the overwhelming financial burden involved in its treatment,” said Sunil Gavaskar.
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Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospitals
Since 2012, Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospitals have diligently served over 250,000 outpatients, provided screenings for over 247,000 pregnant women and children, and performed more than 29,600 pediatric cardiac surgeries. With the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospitals’ state-of-the-art facilities located in Palwal, Naya Raipur, and Navi Mumbai, the trust has made commendable strides in offering comprehensive healthcare services across India.
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Nine out of 1,000 babies have CHD
CHD is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the pediatric population of both the developing and developed countries. As per a report in the National Library of Medicine nine out of 1,000 babies have Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).
In India alone, it accounts for 10 percent of infant deaths, despite suitable treatment available for the ailment. However, lack of financial resources largely for rural and underprivileged population makes the surgery unaffordable for many.
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Increasing awareness on Congenital Heart Disease
Speaking about the program, THF’s CEO, Sandeep J. Kapur said, “The Little Hearts Program is aimed towards providing hope to the underprivileged families whose children suffer from CHDs. From early diagnosis to surgery and post-surgery monitoring, the initiative provides all the necessary medical and financial aid to the families. Our aim is to increase awareness about Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) amongst people and provide support to the families who cannot afford these lifesavings yet costly surgeries.”
Furthermore, Kapur also stated that the organization plans to expand several such initiative under its umbrella program Hans Pediatric Care which presently runs initiatives such as Cochlear Implant surgeries, Oncology Care, Early Childhood Development & Neurodevelopment, among others.
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The Hans Foundation (THF)
The Hans Foundation (THF), established in 2009, is a Public Charitable Trust that works towards creating an equitable society by enhancing the quality of life for all through empowerment of marginalized and underprivileged communities in India.
The Hans Foundation works for the health and wellbeing of remote and under-served groups, with an additional focus on children, persons with disabilities and women. THF also works for Education and Livelihood interventions for holistic development of partner communities.
THF undertakes direct implementation of projects on the ground in addition to providing funding support to Not-for-profit organizations in India.
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Sri Sathya Sai Health and Education Trust
Established in May 1970, the is a Public Charitable Trust, under Section 12 A of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Since inception, it has founded and run nationally renowned Healthcare Institutions across the country providing Completely Free of Cost services to all, irrespective of caste, religion, nationality or financial status.
The trust commenced its services with Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital in Whitefield in rural Karnataka, serving over two million outpatients, conducting over twenty thousand surgeries in all general specialties from over thousand villages.
(India CSR)
