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People from all walks of life join forces for the Little Hearts Project
These are the little ones who need help (above and below)
They had nothing, but even they donated the monies spent on their day’s meals by the government in mid-March, while on Wednesday a Sri Lankan celebrity pledged his full support.
Men, women and children from all walks of life, including the prisoners of Welikada and locally and internationally known racing-car champion Dilantha Malagamuwa, have all joined forces to collect, rupee-by-rupee the Rs. 2 billion needed for the Little Hearts Project of the premier Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) for Children in Colombo.
The vision of the Little Hearts Project initiated by the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians is a state-of-the-art 10-storey Cardiac and Critical Care Complex at the LRH.
“They need you. Save thousands of little hearts. Donate to build hope for children with heart disease and other critical illnesses,” is the plea of Project Chairperson and Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist Dr. Duminda Samarasinghe at a media briefing on Wednesday.
He has all the facts and figures at hand why the Little Hearts Project, which has as its symbol a bright red heart with a hole in it, is a crucial requirement.
The problem is that every year 3,000 babies are born with congenital heart disease and LRH performs 900 cardiac surgeries and 700 catheter-based interventions each year. “The plan is to increase the number of cardiac surgeries to 2,000 and catheter-based interventions to 1,000,” says Dr. Samarasinghe, adding that the need is to improve facilities including the number of beds in the Intensive Care Unit.
Answering the question ‘why’, he says that if not the baby will not live to see his/her next birthday.
With the expertise, skills and care available in abundance, on par or even better than at centres across the world, a dire national need is a dedicated Cardiac and Critical Care Complex. For, those who will seek succour at this centre of excellence are Sri Lanka’s children, from all corners of the country, with heart troubles and any other critical illness.
The donations have flowed in with humble as well as powerful people making their contributions to the Little Hearts Project, explains Dr. Samarasinghe, pointing out that every cent would be utilized for the construction of the building which would be handled by the Sri Lanka Navy under the planning consultancy of the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB).
But, he pleads, go that extra mile, collect all those rupees and send them to the Little Hearts Project.
It is a passionate request that comes from Mr. Malagamuwa to the public to give of their mite. His voice breaking with emotion at the image of little children who need heart operations, he adds that a Little Hearts sticker is proudly displayed on his car.
Dr. Duminda Samarasinghe
Dilantha Malagamuwa
At the media briefing on Wednesday (from left) Commodore A.S.K. Senadeera of the Navy; racing champion Dilantha Malagamuwa; Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist Dr. Duminda Samarasinghe; and Creative Software Director Sushena Ranatunga . Pic by Nilan Maligaspe
| Events for a good cause The whole country is being mobilised and the appeal is for each and everyone to join in to make the Little Hearts Project a reality. Here are some of the events: * April 8 – A walk organized by HNB Grameen at Avissawella to raise funds. * April 9 – The ‘Till Parade II’ at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Borella (Colombo Some of those who have strongly supported the Little Hearts Project are Green Electrics, ESOFT, GAMMA Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Maxxis, the tyre company, while Science College has given a till donation, there has been a Shraddha Walk to raise funds and Interactors have joined with Keells to help the project. Generous donors could send their contributions to the Bank of Ceylon Account No. 79738633 with the Account Name: ‘Little Hearts’. Secure online donations may also be made through the website: www.littlehearts.lk. For more details, please contact the hotline: 0716441122
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where not only ‘keta’ may be donated but also ‘pasumbi’ and ‘hambili’.