Sat, 03 Jun 2017 12:43:59 +0000
By MUKOSELA KASALWE
A TEAM of specialised doctors from India’s Apollo hospitals will next week offer treatment services to over 400 Zambian children suffering from congenital heart diseases, says Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga.
Ms. Kapijimpanga said the development follows discussions between the Zambian Mission in New Delhi and India’s leading hospitals to help over 400 children who could not afford to travel to India for specialised services.
She said the Zambian High Commission was hoping for the establishment of a permanent specialised hospital in Zambia which could cover its eight neighbouring countries that equally sent patients to India and stated that such investors would not make a loss as patients were many.
Ms. Kapijimpanga appealed to all the major hospitals to help with the over 400 children cases and that Apollo responded promptly.
In a statement issued yesterday, first secretary for press Bangwe Naviley said Ministry of Health permanent secretary Jabbin Mulwanda was in India where he mentioned that more than 400 children in Zambia were on the waiting list seeking government sponsorship for congenital heart operation.
“Over 400 children in Zambia are on the waiting list seeking government sponsorship for congenital heart diseases operation.
“Zambia High Commission in New Delhi, therefore, appealed to all the major hospitals to help with the over 400 children and Apollo has responded quickly,” Ms. Kapijimpanga said.
And Apollo Hospitals vice president for corporate development Harinder Sing Sidhu said the institution would set up a screening camp in Lusaka next week to cut on costs.
Dr. Sidhu said his team would evaluate on site-surgery options so that less complicated cases could be treated in Zambia using their equipment and that children would be treated in batches of 25.
He said the comprehensive plan would address the challenges at the lowest possible cost and save priceless lives of children while complicated cases be referred to India at a subsidised cost.
