Sweden-based pediatric cardiologist, Doctor Vasiliki Vourvoulaki is currently at the Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Heart Screening Centre conducting free echocardiograms for children between the ages of 0 to 16 years.
Dr. Vourvoulaki is conducting free echocardiograms to diagnose children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).
Congenital heart disease is a heart abnormality which is present at birth, and it is the most common type of birth defect and requires surgery if detected.
She says with the school holidays going on, some parents are using this time as an opportunity to take their children to get their heart screening done.
Dr. Vourvoulaki is urging parents to get their children screened if they notice symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, swelling of the legs, stomach or around the eyes, extreme redness, a blue tinge to the skin or lips and rapid breathing when a baby is feeding.
Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Heart Screening Centre has been open since April 2019, and over 14,500 free heart screenings have been done on-site and off-site as part of the outreach screening camps.
Through Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Heart Screening Centre, 260 life-saving surgeries have been conducted free of cost for the children of Fiji and the Pacific.
Appointments can be made by calling 837 2361 or 331 2265.
