Amrita Hospital Kochi, in collaboration with Genesis Foundation and HDFC Ergo, conducted a free screening specialty camp for children with heart diseases at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Nagercoil Campus, on June 30. The camp was conducted under the leadership of specialty doctors from the department of paediatric cardiology at Amrita Hospital, Kochi and provided diagnostic evaluations for approximately 50 children, with a specific focus on addressing congenital heart defects. Selected children will receive free treatments and surgeries at Amrita Hospital Kochi.  

Doctors Brijesh, Balaji and Balaganesh from Amrita Hospital's Department of Paediatric Cardiology screened the children in the camp.  

“Amrita Hospital, Kochi, is committed to identifying children in need of heart surgery or catheter procedures and providing them with free care, including surgery. This philanthropic effort is made possible through the generous support of the Genesis Foundation and Amrita Heart Care Foundation” said Dr. Brijesh  

"Amrita Hospital's Pediatric Heart Program has performed approximately 32,500 pediatric cardiac operations and catheter interventions. The hospital has extended free or subsidized care to 24,300 children so far." said Br. Neelakandamrita Chaitanya, In-charge of Mata Amritanandamayi Math, Nagercoil  

The camp addressed the issue of congenital heart defects affecting over 2,50,000 children born annually in India, necessitating intervention for 25% within their first year. Barriers such as limited resources, low awareness, and financial constraints deprive many children of timely medical care, impacting their chances of leading normal lives.  

This initiative marks an expansion of Amrita Hospital's outreach programs in Tamil Nadu as part of its silver jubilee celebrations. Regular camps are scheduled for this area and additional districts within Tamil Nadu as part of Amrita Hospital's broader initiative to offer essential medical care to those in need. Recently the hospital had conducted similar camps in the districts of Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram & Trichy.