…via Kids First Fund initiative

Twelve patients will be travelling to India for Open Heart surgeries under the Kids First Fund Initiative. Among the patients are two adults and ten children.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday Head of the Fund, former First Lady Varshnie Singh said that a contingent of 18 persons will be travelling to India next week.  In addition to the twelve patients, three parents of the younger children, Singh and two other volunteers are travelling.

Singh said that she had recently returned from the UK where she had travelled to raise funds for her organization. She said that locally the response from the business community and private citizens has been good and as such they have been able to raise the US$30, 000 necessary for transportation.

Meanwhile, Singh stated that the cost of the surgeries will amount to at least US$89, 200.  According to her, the hospital has agreed to perform the surgeries on a credit arrangement without adding any interest.  She explained that more funds will have to be raised following the group’s return on June 9.

Singh added that applications had been made to the Ministry of Health for assistance during last year but only a limited response was received.  She said that one patient received US$5,000 and another received US$1,954 during December. She expressed her disappointment at what she described as the non support of the government.

She said that she still does not have access to a vehicle so she has to depend on the “good Samaritans” to move around and to achieve the goals of the Fund. She said that when it came to moving the children around it was problematic.

Meanwhile, Singh further emphasised her commitment to the organization and stated that she was still a resident of Guyana.

This is the seventh batch of children to benefit from the Kids First Fund’s Heart Programme.  The programme is a partnership with Dr KM Cherian and the Frontier Lifeline Hospital in Chennai, India.