Bettiah: Twenty-three children diagnosed with congenital heart disease were referred to Jay Prabha Medanta Super Speciality Hospital in Patna on Sunday for free evaluation and treatment under the Bal Hriday Yojana. Additional chief medical officer, GMC in Bettiah, West Champaran, Dr Ramesh Chandra flagged off the ambulances carrying the children.Dr Chandra said more than 100 children from West Champaran suffering from congenital heart disease have undergone free surgeries under the scheme so far. He said the programme is helping children from economically weaker families access life-saving treatment and quality healthcare.Under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), health teams regularly conduct screening camps at schools and anganwadi centres to identify children with congenital heart ailments. Those diagnosed during the screenings are examined by specialists at no cost and referred for advanced treatment under the Bal Hriday Yojana.“The objective is to identify heart disease at an early stage and ensure timely access to advanced medical care so that affected children can lead healthy and normal lives,” Dr Chandra said.The district health administration has urged parents to contact the nearest health centre or RBSK team if a child shows symptoms of a heart ailment so that they can avail themselves of the benefits of the scheme.
