A highly specialized 19-member international team of surgeons, doctors, nurses, and medical experts from Europe, Australia, and India is currently conducting free open-heart surgeries for children at the Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital in Suva.
The team is led by world-renowned pediatric heart surgeon Professor Afksendiyos Kalangos from Europe, who is internationally acclaimed for his medical innovations, including the invention of the biodegradable Kalangos annuloplasty ring used in heart valve repairs for children.
Professor Kalangos has performed over 17,000 free heart surgeries across more than 20 countries since 1998 through his Kalangos Foundation.
Hospital Director Dr. Krupali Tappoo says they are incredibly thankful to Professor Kalangos and his team for selflessly dedicating their time to come to Fiji and operate on our children.
She adds that Fiji is fortunate to host such a skilled and experienced team, whose work will save the lives of many children who otherwise might not have access to treatment.
Since its inauguration in April 2022, Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital has successfully saved 394 children’s lives and performed more than 37,000 echocardiograms, all offered entirely free of cost.
These milestones have been achieved thanks to the continuous support of visiting medical teams from across the globe, including countries such as the USA, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and India.
