Tura, June 27: In a remarkable initiative to address the pressing issue of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) among children in the Garo Hills region, the District Early Intervention Centre, Tura (DEIC), in collaboration with Health City Hospital, Guwahati, launched a free two-day screening camp for children on Thursday.
The camp targets children aged 0-18 and is being held at the DEIC office within the District Maternity & Child Hospital, Tura.
Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is a condition in which the structure or function of the heart is abnormal at birth. It is the most common type of congenital disability and can range from mild to severe. As per official data, the prevalence of CHD in children is estimated to be around 8-10 per 1000 live births in India.
The initiative, under the RBSK Programme of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, aims to provide early detection and expert medical guidance for heart-related conditions.
Children experiencing symptoms like chest pain, breathlessness, palpitations, and suspected holes in the heart (congenital heart disease) are encouraged to undergo screening at the camp.
The camp was administered by Dr. Nayam Raja, MS (general surgery), MCH-CTVS, Consultant, Department of Paediatric Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery, Health City Hospital and Dr. Kangkan Sharma, MBBS, MD (Anesthesiology), MD (Cardiac Anesthesia), Sr. Consultant, CTVS Anesthesiology, Health City Hospital from Guwahati.
On the first day, over 50 children were registered from different parts of the region.
Dr. Raja stressed the critical importance of early CHD detection. In an exclusive interview with Hub News, he stated, “Early diagnosis is crucial in managing Congenital Heart Disease. The majority of CHD cases can be successfully treated if detected in time, allowing children to lead normal, healthy lives.”
Dr. Raja further highlighted the hospital’s track record, saying, “At Health City Hospital, we’ve successfully operated on over 600 children with CHD. Today, these children are living healthy lives.”
In the camp, patients are provided with a thorough echo-cardiography evaluation of the heart for any abnormality. They will be categorized according to the severity, based on which they will be called to the Health City Hospital for further evaluation and treatment. The hospital will bear all costs.
Tura camp is the third screening camp in Meghalaya by Health City Hospital followed by Shillong and Jowai.
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