To repair and correct the congenital heart defects among children from disempowered families, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian & Charity Est and Dubai Health Authority have partnered with Fortis Healthcare, Mumbai to fund 130 surgeries in a week-long programme, in observance of ‘Year of Zayed’ that marks 100 years since the birth of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of UAE.

The week-long health aid programme commenced on July 7 and extends up to July 13, when 130 corrective cardiac procedures and  surgeries were being performed at Fortis Healthcare Mumbai’s Fortis Hospital, Mulund and S L Raheja Hospital Mahim-A Fortis  Associate. This initiative is supported by UAE AID Program, which also supports various non-medical charitable events. Funded by Sheikh Mohammed, Prime Minister of UAE & ruler of Dubai, under project called ‘NABADAT’ (heartbeat), the initiative helped children from disempowered families across Pune, Satara, Sangli, Nandurbar, Raigad, Solapur, Kolhapur, Gadchiroli, Nanded in Maharashtra, and some children from Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh as well.

This initiative was announced by His Excellency Ibrahim Mohamed Bumelha, vice-chairman, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum  Humanitarian & Charity Est.; H E Humaid Al Qutami, director-general, Dubai Health Authority; Dr Obaid Aljassim, consultant  Cardiovascular Thoracic surgeon, head-NABADAT Mission; Saleh Zaher Almazrooei, general manager, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian & Charity Est; Bin Lahij, director of Humanitarian Assistance Dept, Dubai Health Authority and Mohamed Saleh Ahmed Al Teneiji, Consul General, UAE along with Dr S Narayani, Zonal director, Fortis Hospital, Mulund & Dr Bipin Chevale, Zonal director, Raheja Hospital, Mahim-A Fortis Associate, a release issued by Fortis on July 11 said.

Team at Raheja Hospital, Mahim-A Fortis Associate is led by Dr Vijay Agarwal, head, Pediatric Cardiac & Transplant Surgery; Dwarkanath Kulkarni, consultant, Cardiac Surgeon, and Pediatric cardiologists Dr Bhushan Chavan & Dr Shubhangi Upadhye. Team at Fortis Hospital, Mulund is led by Dr Dhananjay Malankar, consultant, Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon; Dr Swati Garekar, consultant Pediatric cardiologist; Dr Sachin Patil, lead Pediatric anesthetist & intensivist and Dr Shivaji Mali, Pediatric anesthetist & intensivist.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr Obaid Aljassim said, "With medical and surgical expertise from S L Raheja Hospital, Mahim and  Fortis Hospital, Mulund, we hope to enrich lives of 130 children; families of these children do not have access to tertiary aid and seek relief through this initiative. Fondly named ‘NABADAT’ (heartbeat), this initiative brings us one step closer to reducing the CHD burden
across Maharashtra and the peripheral states."

Dr Narayani said, "We are extremely honoured to be a part of project ‘NABADAT’ and would like to thank Sheikh Mohammed bin  Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian & Charity Est. for extending aid to children from disempowered background, across Maharashtra and beyond. This association has enabled us to provide these children, a healthy chance at life."

Dr Chevale added, "Many children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) do not have access to treatment at the right time, which ultimately puts them under the risk of adverse outcomes. Through this empowering initiative, we would be reaching out to 130 such children."