PAGE 16 NEWSLANKA 29 DECEMBER - 20 16 ISSUE18 30 ISSUE18 30 NEWSLANKA 29 DECEMBER - 20 16 PAGE 17 The nation unites to build a new hospital wing for critically ill children The plans are ready for the 10-storey state-of-the- Heart disease in children is a major contributor to 30% of the total bed strength. Unfortunately of the requests made for an ICU bed for a critically It can happen to anyone the Cardiology Institute of the National Hospital and recognition came last year when they were placed art building costing Rs. 2 billion which will house childhood mortality in Sri Lanka. It is estimated that currently we have only 11 medical ICU beds, which ill child, only 40% could be admitted to the The parents of three from among thousands of then to Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital. No. 1 in the ‘Cardiology Team of the Year’ category little cardiac patients on four floors, the Medical approximately 3000 children are born with heart is about 1% of the bed strength. This highlights the Paediatric Intensive Care unit at LRH leaving 60% children who are going about their routines and The waiting was unbearable and Sajeewa and at the prestigious British Medical Journal (BMJ) Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on three floors, the disease every year in Sri Lanka. These numbers gravity of the issue that critically ill children face and at the risk of losing their lives due to lack of ICU leading normal lives — thanks to the gifted hands Sumithra begged and pleaded for the money South Asia Awards. Neonatal ICU on tally with the data from the Cardiology Unit at LRH. the dire need to improve such facilities to bring facilities. Many of them succumb to their illnesses and care of the LRH heart team — are eager to tell needed to attend to his heart at a private hospital. Teamwork has been the secret of success of around two floors and At the moment we have facilities to perform 900 down childhood mortality in the country. due to lack of ICU beds. their stories to the Sunday One intervention and two open-heart 200 people including Consultant Paediatric training facilities in cardiac surgical procedures and 600 cardiac Problem to be addressed 3. Lack of facilities for hands-on-training and Times. surgeries at a private hospital and Cardiologists, Consultant Paediatric Cardiac critical care on the catheter interventions every year. Those who are A significant number of children born with congenital research – Lack of infrastructure facilities to In Katana, it is seven-year- nearly Rs. 1.5 million — which they Surgeons, Consultant Anaesthetists, doctors, remaining floor. not treated get added to the already long waiting and acquired heart disease die due to lack of establish a proper in-service training programme is old Shevon who keeps a could ill-afford – later, Sakila was still nurses and minor staff. Going beyond the call of It may seem a lists and will succumb to their illness due to lack of surgical facilities. Many other new-borns and a major issue in professional development. look out for our vehicle and constantly ill. They could not collect duty and certainly not watching the clock to rush off huge sum of facilities for treatment. Most of the children with children with other critical illnesses succumb to their Modes of Intervention by the project points out the gate through any more money to do another open- to private practice, they ‘man’ and ‘woman’ LRH’s money but when heart disease need surgery only once in their illnesses due to lack of intensive care facilities. 1. Expansion of infrastructure for children with heart which we should enter. As heart surgery that was needed. It was heart unit. looking at the lifetime. Once treated, a clear majority can lead a Proposed solution disease we chat to his mother, then that Sajeewa and Sumithra MEET THE ORGANISERS bigger picture it normal life. If their cardiac lesion is not corrected at To construct a Cardiac and Critical Care Complex a. Number of cardiac operating theatres will Samanthi Perera, and her heard that LRH had commenced Little Hearts is a nation-owned project supported by would help save the appropriate age, they will have repeated with adequate number of operating theatres, increase from 2 to 4 tears flow at the very heart operations. Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians (SLCP). the lives of admissions to hospitals making it a burden to the intensive care beds and other facilities to provide b. Number of cardiac ICU beds will increase from thought of the agony they “Since Sakila’s birth, we had been in SRI LANKA COLLEGE OF PAEDIATRICIANS 200,000 children family and to society as well. timely and appropriate treatment for children with 18 to 40 (with existing and second phase ICU beds) went through with the fear hospital for 114 days,” remembers Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians (SLCP) is the in 20 years. Then Facilities to treat critically ill children and newborn heart disease and critical illnesses in Sri Lanka. c. Addition of a state of the art catheterisation of losing her younger son, Sumithra, while Sajeewa creates the apex professional body in child care in Sri Lanka. It a child’s life would babies are even worse. Children who are acutely ill Justification laboratory for catheter interventions he climbs onto her lap and image of the family having to spread is represented by the paediatricians from all districts have been saved are managed in general wards due to lack of A clear majority of these children can lead a normal With expansion of infrastructure, we will be able to looks lovingly at her face. a cloth and beg by the roadside if of Sri Lanka. At present 240 doctors are members of at just Rs. 10,000, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds. It is difficult to life if timely and appropriate treatment is provided. perform 2000 cardiac surgical procedures and 1000 For Samanthi and her Shevon loves to recite succour had not been forthcoming the college inclusive of all the Consultant reiterates Dr. implement a proper medical emergency call system Even if it is high cost medical care, it is very cost- cardiac catheter interventions per year. This will husband, it had been Sinhala poetry. from the LRH heart team. Paediatricians in the country. Duminda or retrieval system as even if a critically ill patient is effective according to WHO definition of cost- help to bring down the long waiting lists for cardiac double agony. Their first- Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara The same sentiments about the SLCP acts as the advisory body of the Ministry of Dr. Dumindra Samarasinghe Samarasinghe. resuscitated in the ward, it is difficult to get an ICU effectiveness of high cost medical interventions. surgery in Sri Lanka. born, Shane, who is now 9 wonder that is the heart team are Health in decisions related to childcare in Sri Lanka. The Cardiac bed to manage the all-important critical stage. These children, if not treated at the appropriate age, 2. Expansion of Infrastructure for critically ill children years old had been diagnosed with a heart issue expressed by Sushen, an IT expert who had lived These professionals have first-hand experiences One of the supporters of this cause, former Complex will comprise four dedicated operating Patients with severe pneumonia, dengue shock, incur a higher cost to the healthcare system due to a. Number of Paediatric ICU beds will be increased when he was about three months. Back then in abroad and had the means to take his little son to and a profound understanding of the children's national cricketer Kumar Sangakkara, is theatres (OTs), a catheterization laboratory, a 36- severe sepsis and Guillain-Barre syndrome are complications they develop which always need from 11 to 36 2007, the LRH’s Paediatric Cardiac Unit had limited any centre of healthcare needs confident that “together we can build an bed ICU, a high dependency unit and wards. some examples where they will lead a normal life repeated hospital admissions. b. Number of Neonatal ICU beds will be increased facilities and beds. A date would be given for the excellence across nationwide. For institution that will nurture and serve our Not only heart patients but also newborns and once the acute phase is properly managed. It is an acclaimed fact that when a country reaches from 15 to 50 intervention but if a critically-ill baby was brought in, the world, be it that reason, when children for generations to come.” children with other critical illnesses will be treated in Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH) is the a single digit infant and under-five year mortality With expansion of ICU facilities for children, we will the staff would be compelled to use those facilities Australia, Little Hearts idea “No parent ever dreams that their child this building. tertiary care referral centre which provides rates, to reduce it further, it should invest in be able to accommodate all critically ill children in to save that baby. So in desperation, the family sold Singapore, India, was presented at would suffer from a [critical] illness, so by Giving the backdrop in which such a centre of comprehensive care for children with heart disease treatment of heart disease and critical illnesses as an intensive care unit. This will help to bring down whatever they had and begged the benevolence of England or the council contributing to this project, we are ensuring excellence is needed, Dr. Samarasinghe says the morbidity and mortality due kith and kin to collect the large sum of money America. meeting, SLCP the wellbeing of our own children as well,” that Paediatric Cardiologists are stationed at the to critical illnesses like dengue, needed to get Shane’s heart repaired at a private However, he had unanimously Sangakkara added.”That is a cause worth Jaffna Teaching Hospital, the Anuradhapura pneumonia, severe sepsis etc. hospital. opted to get a approved and investing our hearts and minds into. Teaching Hospital, the Kurunegala Hospital, the 3. Expansion of facilities for The second time round, as soon as baby Shevon device closure supported the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital and the training and research was placed in her arms after the Caesarian birth, procedure done project. have given us so far,” said Dr. de Silva. “Now we Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. Children from all a. Specific areas for training and Samanthi realized that all was not right with his on his son’s tiny SLCP is need to include our entire nation and give them a over the country are referred to the LRH research heart. The family was devastated and Samanthi was heart at the LRH. responsible for chance to lend a hand to our little ones in need.” Paediatric Cardiac Unit for surgery and b. Areas with facilities for distraught, for this time it was much worse and if “Mihipita devivaru” monitoring Little SLCP President-Elect Dr. LakKumar Fernando interventions as nowhere else are there simulation training they had to pay private hospital bills they would or ‘gods on earth’, Hearts activities, concluded the launch of Little Hearts on a hopeful Paediatric Cardiac Surgeons. c. Discussion areas and a have to sell the very roof above their heads and end is how these and as well as note. Currently, heart surgery on these children is lecture hall for workshops up as paupers. numerous other managing the “If we all join hands today, we can build the future in performed in two cardiac operating theatres, With addition of training areas, “Puduma manasika peedanayak thibbe,” murmurs parents who pass funds raised by the which every child receives the help they need, when which had earlier been general theatres we will be able to train the staff Samanthi, adding that there was unimaginable through the portals of the Paediatric Cardiac Unit, campaigns. they need it,” said Dr. Fernando. “Only that way will refurbished about 10 years ago. Once the to provide optimum care for the mental trauma. with heavy hearts but leave with joy as their children SLCP President Dr. Ramya de Silva expressed all of our children have an equal opportunity at a surgeries are done, these children are children treated at LRH. This The hospital rounds began – this time, however, all have got a new lease of life, describe the doctors. gratitude to the contributors and invited everyone to healthy and happy life.” transferred to an 18-bed ICU. can be further expanded to the necessary tests such as echocardiograms for While the team will remain in the very hearts of the join the cause. A major issue is that the ICU beds are training of staff in peripheral Baby Shevon were carried out at the LRH. children and families they have touched, worldwide “We have been deeply moved by the support people inadequate, points out Dr. Samarasinghe, paediatric units as well. The LRH heart unit took the family into its fold, while explaining that only about 40% of children who Lack of a proper research facility both Dr. Samarasinghe and Paediatric Cardiac need surgery can be accommodated. is one of the main reasons for Surgeon Dr. Kanchana Singappuli reassured them. Ways to Donate Meanwhile, even the OTs have not been poor research culture in Sri “We never had to run after the doctors, they would custom-made for heart operations. Lanka. With the establishment of stop by us and explain everything,” says Samanthi, 1. Direct bank deposits: Pointing out why such centres of excellence a research, skills and computer with tender looks at the statue of Jesus Christ which Bank: Bank of Ceylon, Borella Super Grade Branch cannot be built all over the country, Dr. laboratory, we will be able to has pride of place in their home as she showers Account name: LITTLE HEARTS Samarasinghe says that the current thinking is provide the infrastructure to blessings on the heart team. Acc No: 79738633 (Current Account) for expertise and skill to be concentrated at one facilitate and develop research Implicit faith, Samanthi had in the doctors and the Swift Code: BCEYLKLX Bank Code: 7010 Branch Code: 38 centre, according to lessons learnt from other culture in Sri Lanka. events are now a very stark but happy memory – countries. A high-volume centre with better Structure and components of Shevon undergoing the first lengthy surgery for a 2. Online donations: resources results in less morbidity and mortality the proposed building major heart defect plus a hole in the heart in a. Via our website using Visa/Master cards – Visit http://littlehearts.lk/donation/ (Secure payment gateway from Sampath Bank) Citing the example of the United Kingdom, he Ground floor – Changing rooms January 2011 and another one two weeks later to b. Via Sampath Vishwa - After Login, Go to "Make a Payment" > select from list of payees "Donations / Charity " > "Little Hearts - Sri Lanka College of adds that it has reduced the 11 Paediatric for theatre staff, storage and close a second tiny hole in his heart. Paediatricians" Cardiac Centres spread across the country to cleaning areas We leave the seven. 1st Floor – Four home of Shevon 3. Donate using M Cash Project Vision cardiac operating after he has a. Mobitel users – dial #111# > Select Pay Institutes > Choose donate – Little Hearts > Enter PIN number > enter mobile number > Enter amount to be To provide timely and appropriate treatment to theatres and one recited Sinhala donated > Confirm transaction. all newborn babies and children with heart cardiac and English disease and critical illnesses in Sri Lanka, catheterisation poems, told us 4. Monthly SMS donations using Dialog or Hutch mobile (for pre and post paid customers) through the government free healthcare system. laboratory that he wishes to a. REG
The Nation Unites to Build a New Hospital Wing for Critically Ill Children
