Rabuka Shares Personal Experience at Children’s Hospital
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka could not hold back his tears as he shared the experience of great grandson, Dallas, who was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease.
Mr Rabuka was speaking at the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital 100 free life-saving heart surgery celebration in Nasese, Suva yesterday.
His four-year-old great grandson was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease after he was examined by doctors at the children’s hospital last year.
Now, he gets his injection after every third week at the Nuffield Clinic at Tamavua in Suva.
Mr Rabuka said he could not help thinking about how young patients and their anxious parents cope during such difficult and traumatic times.
He said he could relate to many families who were present during the event yesterday because he had been at the receiving end of such concerning news.
“Dallas lives with us in our family home. He is very dear to us,” he said.
“My wife, Sulu and I cannot even imagine what our world would be like if his health deteriorated to a level that would require surgery.”
He said the Sai Prema Foundation’s intention to build a hospital dedicated to saving the lives of children who live with congenital heart disease was nothing short of a blessing to many families.
“The foundation has built and established a state-of-the-art specialist children’s heart hospital, which has been recognised by internationally renowned paediatric cardiac surgeons,” he said.
“One hundred free heart surgeries later, and it would be difficult for any of us to imagine a Fiji without the Sai Prema Foundation, and the Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital.
“Without them, some parents around the country would have to pay a minimum of $10,000 for heart surgery.
“Your life-saving work has extended the Gift of Life to 22 of our children in Fiji. As I speak, 100 little hearts now beat soundly and effortlessly,” he said.
Free of cost
All surgeries and treatments at the children’s hospital are completely free.
The specialist project was the Sai Prema Foundation Fiji, which is a leading local charitable organisation founded to serve the poor and underprivileged.
Its director, Dr Krupali Tappoo, said congenital heart disease was a major problem affecting the children of Fiji and the Pacific.
According to the World Health Organisation, approximately one per cent of all children born are affected with congenital heart disease.
“This equates to approximately 200 children born in Fiji and 2500 in the Pacific Island nations with congenital heart disease,” she said.
“The sad fact is that most children are unable
to survive without surgical intervention.”
Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital chairman Sumeet Tappoo said heart disease was the number one killer among children and its high prevalence was of great concern.
Mr Tappoo said hundreds of confirmed cases of heart disease were diagnosed through its Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Heart Screening Centre, a foundation established a few years ago.
Hospital’s 100th patient
Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital tended to its 100th patient surgery recently. Four-year-old Mikaele Buaserau’s condition started with a cough, which resulted in his mother, Kelera Buaserau taking him to the Nakasi Health Centre last year.
Mikaele had a ventricular septal defect. His heart made a whooshing sound.
They were referred to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital and later to the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital.
But after getting checked by the doctor at the children’s hospital, they were referred back to the CWM Hospital for more medical tests. Ms Buaserau said after weeks of waiting at home they received a call from the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital last Friday.
“At the hospital we were advised by the doctor to go and get our clothes packed because my son would undergo surgery,” she said. “My husband and I had a good talk and we decided that surgery was the way forward for our son. To see him lying there and calling for me was something I won’t forget, but I am just thankful that he is well and healthy.” She said parents should get their children checked for heart disease.