Ranchi: The state chapter of National Health Mission (NHM), in collaboration with a Kochi hospital organised a congenital heart disease (CHD) screening camp at Ranchi Sadar Hospital on Friday and Saturday.As many as 292 children were screened over the two days, with 101 detected with CHD. Those diagnosed with conditions requiring surgical intervention will be referred to the Amrita Hospital in Kochi, where they will receive free treatment.State nodal officer of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), Dr Vijay Kishore Rajak, said that children screened at the camp were identified by doctors at the district level.
“The children will undergo a final screening at Ranchi Sadar Hospital. Among the children, those requiring surgeries will be sent to Kochi for treatment. The patients included 43 from Ranchi, 25 from Khunti, 20 from Godda and 27 from Chatra,” Rajak said.He said that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Kochi hospital and NHM in Jan to detect and treat CHD patients in the state. Under the MoU, Jharkhand govt will also bear transportation and lodging expenses, along with medical expenses.
In Feb, a similar camp was held in Giridih district, where 150 children were screened, of whom 50 were detected with CHD and 15 have undergone surgeries.CHD affects 1 in 100 babies. These defects can disrupt normal blood flow, ranging from minor issues to critical, life-threatening problems.Dr Brijesh, heart surgeon of Amrita Hospital, told TOI that every year around 7,000 children are born with CHD in Jharkhand.“Children born with severe CHD cannot live even a year. Sometimes in very rare cases they can live up to 30 years. However, once surgery is conducted, they can lead a normal life without any medication. If a surgery is done at a private hospital, it can cost up to Rs 2-2.5 lakh. But under the MoU, patients can avail surgeries for free,” he added.
