Treatment Of Heart Diseases in Children From COVID-19 Affected Families

The pandemic has had its worst impact on children from underprivileged families already suffering from health issues. Coronavirus has only increased the financial burden on such families. Child Heart Foundation is supporting children from underprivileged backgrounds born with heart diseases whose families have been financially impacted by COVID-19. The project aims to provide treatment to 20 underprivileged children in Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab and West Bengal.

Covid-19 affected everyone in various ways, which included losing family members , losing jobs, livelihood and many more. We at Child Heart Foundation work with children born with heart diseases from underprivileged families.

1. The fact that 180000 to 200000 children are born each year in India with a type of congenital heart disease and 30% of these children require treatment in first year of their life, poor and young parents who have got affected by Covid, and family find it impossible to organize treatment expenses which can run into lakhs. They end up losing their children as the waiting period at Government hospitals is too long.

If we as an NGO and community as a whole do not intervene and support these children, the families who are already reeling under stress and desperation might lose their child.

During the second wave of COVID-19. We started a relief fund for helping children and women with medical supplies, ration and hospital care. This fund had an immense impact and we could reach out to more families, more than 5000 beneficiaries.

1. Through CHF HRIDAAN™, We register the patient after final diagnosis and approximate estimated costs are worked out.
2. The registration process involves address proof, income certificate and identity proof documents of the parent/guardian to be certified by local government authorizing authority.
3. Through this project we will get 20 children treated for various heart diseases. These children belong to families which have been directly or indirectly affected by Covid pandemic

1. Direct Impact Saving lives of 20 children in the age group of 0 to 18 years by getting them treated for various heart defects. These children would otherwise not survive due to lack of funds.
2. The diagnosis of these heart defects will be offered through free echocardiography screening at our center.
3. Indirect beneficiaries will be 200 family members who are directly related to these children
4. Creating awareness in around 50000 community members regarding congenital heart diseases so that children get screened for any underlying heart disease and get treated as soon as possible.