Sri Lanka Army’s 511 Brigade in Jaffna in collaboration with Urumpirai Lions Club and Asiri Heart Care Center, organized a cardiac camp at Kopay Navalar Tamil Vidyalaya recently (18).
The Camp secured a very high response form the general public where a recorded number of 583 attended for medical advices and treatments from neighbouring areas. Brigadier Piyal Wickramarathne, GOC 51 Division graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and many other distinguished invitees including the Divisional Secretary of Kopay, Mr M Pratheepan, District Coordinator to the Governor of the Lions Club Dr Thiyagaraja attended the inauguration ceremony.
Asiri Heart Care Centre conducted this camp purely as a community service project to benefit the general public in Jaffna where the limited cardiac care facilities are available. The team of Asiri Cardiac Care Centre was Comprising of Dr Anil Rohan Perera (Clinical Director), Dr Vivek Guptha (Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon), Dr Kolitha Lelwala (Senior Medical Officer - Asiri Heart), Dr Paul Gunasekaram (Senior Medical Officer – Asiri Central), Dr Mrs Chithrangani Perera (Consultant Physician) and Dr Mrs S Guptha. Asiri Hospital’s nursing, technical and assisting staff continued to work with a very high degree of professionalism and with a lot of patience until the last patient was cleared.
As a result of this camp Krishnakumar Kajenthini a 20 year girl who is residing in Erlalai, Kadduvan was identified by the team as a patient who should undergo a double valve replacement surgery to save her life. The girl had already undergone a previous mitral valvotomy surgery which had a reschedule leak in her mitral valve surgery in year 2009.Further inquiry in to patient’s background revealed that she was the 3rd daughter of a woman headed family with five children and their income was limited to the sum her mother earns working as a labourer in the neighbouring fields on daily basis. Dr Vivek Gupta decided to wave off his professional fee for the surgery but even then the patient could not afford the surgery. Dr Vivek Gupta then consulted Dr Anil Perera and the matter was decided with the Asiri Hospital Management.
Considering the medical and financial status of this young patient, Dr Manjula Karunarathne, the Chief Executive Officer of Asiri Surgical Hospitals gave approval to undertake her surgery free of charge at Asiri Heart Care Centre. As per the initial assessment, the girl was to be subjected to a Multiple Valve Replacement Surgery and Rs. 400 000.00 was required for 2 Valves which were to be purchased from outside suppliers.
Criticality and the urgency of the matter was communicated to Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Security Forces Commander Jaffna, and on his directions, Army initiated the campaign “Saving Kajenthini” to educate public and find donors to save the life of the girl. On the very 2nd day, Mr Kirubanandan, a Colombo based Jaffna Engineer came forward to bear the total cost of the Valves amounting to Rs 400 000.00.
On 27th March morning, as facilitated by the Security Forces Commander Jaffna, the patient and her mother was airlifted from Palali to Katunayaka and admitted to Asiri Heart Care Centre. During the subsequent examinations conducted at the hospital, it was revealed that she only required a Single Valve Replacement Surgery and the donor, Mr Kirubanandan was so kind hearted to deposit the balance Rs. 200 000.00 at Asiri Heart Care Centre to purchase a Valve for next fortunate Patient from Jaffna.
Kajenthini’s Valve replacement Surgery was successfully completed by Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr Vivek Gupta and his team by afternoon on 30 March 2012. Kajenthini was off all supports in 2 hours and was having tea by same evening. The Valve used for her surgery costs only Rs. 10000.00 and a further Rs. 10000.00 is available at Asiri Hospitals for any future patient from Jaffna.
Sri Lanka Army organized a group of soldiers to donate required amount of B+ Blood prior to and after the surgery was done for Kajenthini and troops of 3 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR) are taking care of her family at Erlalai, until the return of their mother who is presently accompanying Kajenthini at Asiri Heart Care Centre.
Entire Asiri Heart Care Centre rendered an immeasurable contribution to save the innocent life of young Kajenthini. Ms Jessie, the Cardiac Coordinator, performed an excellent job of work with regards to liaison and coordination with the hospital and should be admired for her kindness, foresight and friendly diplomacy.
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