After giving the gift of life to 365 children through free heart surgeries at the Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital by visiting surgeons, the Sai Prema Foundation is now planning to build the capacity of Fijian health professionals by offering free healthcare scholarships.
This has been highlighted by the founder of Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital and global humanitarian leader Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai while speaking during the hospital’s 3rd anniversary celebration last night.
He says the foundation and the Ministry of Health have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure that they are able to do this for more people here because if they build capacities, they can make Fiji self-sustaining.
Sri Madhusudan says local healthcare professionals will train at the Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research in Muddenahalli, India where three nurses from Sai Sanjeevani have completed their training.
He says he believes the better help would be to not just build a hospital and then borrow doctors and nurses from everywhere, but to create our own talent and resources.
Sri Madhusudan says our own people can be upskilled to deliver this kind of high-quality, world-class care right here in this very country.
He says he has been telling Sumeet Tappoo, the Chair of the hospital and world renowned singer, to work on it because we must build that as that is a permanent solution.
Sri Madhusudan further says that a cath lab is needed to carry out many more procedures that are faster, allow for quicker discharges, and should complement the existing system of surgeons.
He says they are looking at setting up that lab at the children’s hospital.
Sri Madhusudan also says he is grateful that the government continues to stands by them and has thanked the public-private partnership to provide land for the facility.
The Sadguru says that although they work in many countries, the best partnership they have ever had with a government is in Fiji.
Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka says the $25 million facility has done more than save lives - it has positioned Fiji as a regional leader in specialized pediatric care, where once families faced the heartbreaking choice between financial ruin and the chance of survival, they now offer world-class treatment without financial barriers.
He says the Fijian government recognizes this as one of their most successful public-private partnerships.
Gavoka also says the government is committed to establishing Fiji's first dedicated cardiac training academy by 2026, creating a sustainable pipeline of local specialists.
He says they will develop innovative funding models to ensure this institution's long-term stability and growth.
Gavoka acknowledged Sri Madhusudan, the Tappoo family and the Sai Prema Foundation for their extraordinary philanthropy that has built not just a hospital but a lasting legacy for the nation.
He has also acknowledged international medical partners from 12 nations for sharing their world-class expertise, and the hospital staff as well.
Meanwhile, the Radhika Trust, established by the Punja family, set up Children's Diabetes Center at the hospital to work in the field of juvenile diabetes.
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