Poor children with heart disease now have reason to smile thanks to Sishu Sathi

Darjeeling: There was a time when children belonging to families from the low income bracket having congenital heart disease, would have to depend on financial aid for surgery. However, with the state government's Sishu Sathi scheme, this has become a thing of the past.

The Hills too are reaping the benefits of this scheme, with the children undergoing rectification surgeries in both government and private speciality hospitals, absolutely free of cost. Under this scheme, free treatment is being provided to children who are in need of heart surgeries, irrespective of economic status. The state government has partnered with speciality private hospitals, along with government hospitals, to provide free paediatric cardiac surgery to around 3,000 children every year. The scheme, a brainchild of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was launched on August 21, 2013.

Under the scheme, the state government conducts health screening tests in schools to detect heart ailments in children. The government then provides free cardiac surgeries for children up to the age of 12 years. All children are eligible irrespective of family income. All expenses for the treatment, including cost of surgery, are borne by the state government.

Recently, a screening camp was held at the Darjeeling Sadar Hospital, attended by doctors from a private speciality hospital in Kolkata. 30 children from the Hills were checked and screened for heart ailments.

"Earlier, the patients would have to go to the hospitals in Kolkata and Siliguri for screening. Sometimes it involved a number of trips. To make matters easier for the patients, the screenings are now being held here. Only the shortlisted patients, who will be operated on, will have to go to Kolkata," stated Dr. Sujoy Bishnu, deputy chief medical officer of health – 1, Darjeeling.