Dhaka: Complicated open heart surgery and interventional surgery of children are being done at Dhaka Combined Military Hospital (CMH). Poor and underprivileged children are getting these facilities at free of cost.

CMH commandant Brigadier General Md. Fashiur Rahman disclosed this at a press conference on Thursday (December 10) at CMH in city.

He said that this treatment has begun on last Saturday (December 5) and will continue to next Saturday (December 12). Meanwhile, as many as 24 children received cardiac operation while 35 received cardiac intervention (without opening heart).

According to Rahman, this humanitarian program is going on as a joint venture of Saudi Arabian physicians’ ‘Little heart’ organization and child cardiac specialists of Bangladesh Army. The program is being financed by USA aid agency ‘Muntada’.

‘Little Heart’ consisting of 24 physicians is led by Dr Zamil Abdul Aziz-Al-Ata. Dr Mohammad Sihata is the cardiac surgeon in the team.
 
Fashiur Rahman informed the media that the treatment mission is being assisted by Brigadier General Dr AKM Musa Khan and Dr Nurunnahar Fatema. ‘Little Heart’ is carrying on their third mission this time. In October of last year and in February-March of current year a total of 123 children received open heart and interventional treatment.

Dr Fatema said that the research conducted by CMH from 2004 to 2006 revealed that at least 25 children out of a thousand were born with congenital heart complications. If proper treatment is given to them they can come back to normal life.

Dr Musa Khan said that cardiac treatment began here first in 1981 in NICVD and it started at CMH in 1990. Cardiac treatment is given in 27 hospitals in the country. The treatment is also given at four government hospitals, at two autonomous and in 21 private hospitals.

He expressed gratitude to ‘Little heart’ mission and congratulated them for their humanitarian services for the poor children of the country. He also called upon the well-off people of the country to come forward in this humanitarian work.

The press conference was attended by chief surgeon of CMH Brigadier General Munshi Md. Mujibur Rahman, acting chief physician Brigadier General Shaikh Ruhul Amin, Dr Zamil Abdul Aziz Al-Ata, Dr Mohammad Sihata and Muntada PRO Kabir Mia.

BDST: 1946 HRS, DEC 10, 2015
Edited by Shahjahan/RR