FREE HEART SCREENING IN LAE; NEED FOR MORE MACHINES AND MORE TRAINED STAFF
Picture Caption: Chief Pediatrician Dr Cornelia Kilalang during the routine Heart Screening at Angau Memorial Hospital, Lae.
By Martha Louis
THE Port Moresby General Hospital Cardiac Team were in Lae earlier this week conducting free heart screening for Children at Angau Memorial Hospital, for the Operation Open Heart Program.
Chief Pediatrician, Dr Cornelia Kilalang, explained that heart problems in children are more common than people think, some babies are born with heart defects, while others develop rheumatic heart disease from untreated throat infections.
But the big problem is that many children come in late, and it is important to go for early checkup.
Dr Kilalang singled out that screenings use a portable heart ultrasound to spot problems like valve issues, heart defects from birth, or damage caused by disease, unfortunately, in PNG, there is only one machine, leaving many children at risk.
She further explained that “Operation Open Heart program” aims to find children with heart conditions early so they can get care in time, whilst also adding that more machines and trained staff are urgently needed at hospitals across the country to save young lives.
Dr Kilalang urged parents to look for signs such as coughs that won’t clear, babies who sweat or struggle to feed, children who don’t gain weight, or who breathe too fast and in older kids, painful joints, fevers and shortness of breath can also signal trouble.
“Open heart surgery is very delicate,” Dr Kilalang said. “We stop the heart and lungs and use a machine while surgeons work.
At Angau Hospital, pediatrician Dr Winnie Sadua said the team checked 21 patients on the first day and expected up to 60 more. Babies in the nursery were also screened.
The Operation Open Heart Foundation, supported by BSP, Air Niugini, ExxonMobil, the Sir Brian Bell Foundation and Lae International Hotel, is helping run the program.
Families picked for surgery have their travel covered, and overseas surgeons are flown in for complex cases.
Foundation spokesperson Jane Huka said the support was vital: “These partners make sure children across PNG can get the heart treatment they need.
