22 heart patients off to India for treatment
 
2006-05-09 09:05:30
By Pastory Nguvu

	The IPP Executive Chairman, Reginald Mengi (in black suit, holding a child) poses for a group photograph with 22 patients who are to under go free heart surgery at Narayana Hradayalaya Heart Insitute in Bangalore, India.On his right is the Chairman of Lions Club of DSM (Host),Lion Firoz Bandali.

About 22 heart patients left Dar es Salaam yesterday for heart correction surgeries at Narayana Hrudayalaya Heart Institute in Bangalore, India.

IPP Chairman, Reginald Mengi, facilitated travel and treatment of about 10 patients in the group, including four who need valve replacements with a donation of 23.7m/-.

’Every individual should have the will to assist people facing difficulties in the society we live in,’ Mengi said yesterday at Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport.

He said many people were silently suffering from heart problems as they had no means of meeting treatment expenses.

’I call upon the community to have the spirit of assisting such people. All what is needed is the will to help. Don’t wait to be rich in order to offer such assistance,’ he said.

Mengi promised to send about 100 heart children to India for treatment within this year.

He reiterated that his plans to build a heart institute were still in place.

’Before then, I am obliged to assist these heart patients who need urgent help to save their lives,’ he said.

The District Officer of Medical Camps and Convener of Heart Surgery Project in Tanzania Lion Dr Rajni Kanabar expressed gratitude to the IPP Chairman and other donors for their contributions to the noble cause.

’We are very grateful to Mengi for kindly donating money for the treatment of about 10 heart patients. He also gave out additional support for four patients who will need to valve replacements…. May God bless him for his very humanitarian gesture,’ he said.

Dr Kanabar said a report prepared by a government appointed task force in 2003 on a proposal to establish open modern heart surgery facility at Muhimbili National Hospital indicates that annually, over 7,000 children and teens suffer congenital heart diseases or rheumatic heart defects.

Their needs are not met due to lack of state of art surgical centre in the country.

• SOURCE: Guardian