An alarming number of congenital heart disease cases, some in the severe stages of the condition were discovered over the last few days when the Central Islamic Organisation (CIOG) and its overseas partner, Three Rivers Foundation held a cardiac clinic.
More persons than expected turned out during the four-day clinic which started on Monday and was intended mainly for children. A total of 201 persons were screened and fifteen of the cases were identified as high risk and urgent. Of the 201, 106 were children. Arrangements are being made to have those identified as urgent cases to travel to India for surgery in the coming months.
Dr. Viresh Mahajan, a cardiac specialist from India was flown into the country to conduct the clinic on the request of Three Rivers Foundation President, Jeanette Singh following several misdiagnoses the non-governmental organization received in relation to young heart patients in the country.
Singh said yesterday that her organization has collaborated with CIOG since 2005 and had assisted 31 local children to have heart surgeries in India. But in recent years the organization has had cause to question diagnoses being made here after children leave for a specific surgery and end up doing another after they are screened by the doctors in India.
“Three Rivers decided to bring the specialist here so that he would do the screening and then we would make arrangements for the children to travel. We also wanted to prioritise and select those urgently in need to make the next trip”, Singh told reporters yesterday.
Speaking at a press briefing to update the media on the cardiac clinic, Singh said heart disease is a major problem in Guyana but more alarming is the number of young children living with it. She said they saw children as young as three months at the clinic. Among the conditions were congenital heart disease, Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) and Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), which are forms of congenital heart disease.
Singh said another area of concern was individuals who turned up with high blood pressure.
According to her people here are waiting to die given some of the alarming diagnoses that were made. Singh noted that Three Rivers is considering having a doctor visit Guyana to screen patients before they travel.
The clinic was a success according to her given that persons from all over the country turned out. She said some persons screened needed only medication which they provided. She pointed out that funding for Three Rivers comes largely from the Guyanese and Punjabi communities in Toronto.
Fazeel Ferouz, CIOG President said his organization has long been responding to requests from Guyanese over the years to travel overseas for heart surgeries. He said the cardiac clinic was meant to serve a wider section of the population. (Iana Seales)
