Health
12000 Children Run For Your Healthy Heart
~Children Help Create Awareness, Raising Funds For Pediatric Cardiac Center~
~Run for a healthy heart and create awareness of congenital heart diseases ~
Mumbai 12th Feb 2017: Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children in association with Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust organized “Little Hearts Marathon” with the objective to raise awareness on the increasing number of cardiac diseases among children. More than 100 schools from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane participated in the Marathon at Royal Western India Turf Club Limited, Mahalaxmi Race Course. Hon’ble Mrs. Amruta Fadnavis, Deputy Vice-President, Axis Bank & Wife of Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Mr. Ness Wadia, MD Wadia Group graced the occasion.
During the marathon, Wadia hospital announced its first pediatric cardiac surgery was performed successfully at their full-fledged pediatric cardiac surgery center, last week. The funds raised from the three successful previous marathons conducted since 2014 has helped the cardiac surgery centre to take shape. The facility is located in the new renovated building of Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children which hosts a 150 bedded NICU apart from the cardiac ICU and will be a solace for those who cannot effort higher costs of surgery.
“In the past two years, our hospital has seen about 1000 children with cardiac problems but they had to be referred to other hospitals. Many children with congenital heart diseases are in the waiting list due to lack of funds. As symptoms for congenital heart diseases begin at birth to 2 months of age, often the diagnosis of the same is missed; making it the biggest reason for increased mortality and morbidity,” said Dr Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO Wadia Hospitals.
Dr. Minnie Bodhanwala, further added, “The Little hearts Marathon that helps raise funds for the pediatric cardiac center has completed its fourth year now. The enthusiasm with which parents and children participate in huge numbers and have fun while running for the marathon has compelled us to conduct it every year. Children participated giving the message of promoting organ donation.”
Dr. Biswa Panda, Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon at Wadia Hospital said, “With the availability of latest technology and tools, accurate diagnosis of Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) can be made even before birth. This can help around 75% infants born with critical heart disease to survive beyond the first year and lead a normal life thereafter. However, this privilege of early diagnosis and timely treatment is restricted to children in urbanareas. Unfortunately majority of children born in ruralareas are afflicted with CHD and do not get the necessary care, leading to high morbidity and mortality.”
Dr Jayshree Mishra, Pediatric cardiologist at Wadia Hospital said, “The eating habits and Lifestyle changes among the current generation of children is drastically different from the previous generations. Also, many children who are obese at childhood continue to be the same in their adolescence as well. This creates negative effects on the health conditions of these children, making them vulnerable to heart diseases in the future.”
Hon’ble Mrs. Amruta Fadnavis Said “Awareness of doing physical activity is very important in children & their parents. Running, walking will help them to keep healthy. Today’s generation play on laptops, phone, and video game. Little heart marathon has seen more than 12000 children participated for healthy lifestyle & creating awareness.
Mr. Ness Wadia, MD Wadia Group Said, “ Save Hearts Save Lives initiative is to create awareness about heart problem in children. Our Pediatric heart center will cater to 500 surgeries a year. It is a great initiative where children helping children to promote the cause.”
Actress Kirti Kulhari; Madhur Bhandarkar film director, scriptwriter, and producer; Mrs Earth Priyana Khuranna Goyal – presented prizes to the winners.
