246 lives saved by Sai Sanjeevani Children's Hospital since last April

The Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children's Hospital has saved the lives of 246 children since it opened in April last year.

While speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan, the hospital’s Director, Doctor Krupali Tappoo says they had realised that the problem of congenital heart disease was bigger than what they actually thought and that they needed a dedicated facility to help more children.

Dr. Tappoo says the mother of a two-year-old who received the gift of life in 2018 motivated them to get the hospital up and running soon and not in the next 5 to 10 years.

Dr. Tappoo says they have children coming from all over Fiji and the Pacific including Vanuatu, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Christmas Island, Tuvalu and Papua New Guinea.

She says this is a game changer because so many of these children eventually die and it is a reality.

Dr. Tappoo says funding is challenge especially because they do not have a billing counter and they will never generate any revenue, yet the cost of health care is high and heart surgeries is high anywhere in the world.

She says building of the hospital cost $25 million and the government had granted land and they had talked to many people around the world who felt for the cause and helped them.

She also says there are costs associated with the surgeries that include the cost of medication, consumables, bringing teams in and looking after them.

Dr. Tappoo says they have funded this through individuals around the world and many of their members have given all that they have in terms of their saving.

She has also acknowledged the coalition government and says they have realised the value this hospital and allocated a budget for the hospital which is a welcome relief because they had to work really hard to ensure that the hospital runs.

The government has allocated $4 million to the Sai Prema Foundation in the 2023-2024 national budget.

Dr. Tappoo adds another team from Europe will be coming next month and are expected to conduct about 25 surgeries on children in Fiji and the Pacific.