On Saturday 6 th July 2024, Save a Kid’s Life (SAKL), the flagship community service project of the Rotary Club of Colombo West, welcomed 5 Sri Lankan children who had undergone complex Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) surgery, the children’s parents, and 10 local nurses specially trained to assist surgeons in complex CHD surgeries. The contingent had just returned from India – the children after undergoing surgery, and the nurses after receiving intensive training.
Speaking at the Bandaranaike International Airport where the returnees were warmly welcomed back home, SAKL Project Chairman and Past District Governor of Rotary International District 3220, Rtn Sebastian Karunakaran said, “This is an important milestone for our project because, with this group, SAKL is going to dramatically increase the number of children we operate on every year. For example, in 2024- 25, we intend to complete 50 surgeries which is nearly a 50% increase over the total number we have been able to perform over the entire past 6 years.” Rtn Karunakaran went on to say, “I am pleased to say that our fundraising campaign to do these surgeries is going ahead apace, and we are receiving funding from all over the world, including the Rotary Foundation, Rotary clubs in India and Japan, Rotarians, and other well-wishers. However, given the huge backlog of over 2,300 children, there really is no ceiling to our fundraising efforts: the more funds we receive, the more surgeries we can do – and the more surgeries we do, the more children we can save. It’s as simple as that. Because, if this life-saving surgery is not done when they are still young, children with CHDs will not make it to adulthood. Unfortunately, this is the reality. That is why we will, from now on, increase the number of operations we do every year.” SAKL flies indigent children with CHDs to the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, in Kochi, India for surgery. Amrita is one of the leading hospitals in India, ranked 15 th in all of India. It also has the 6 th best medical college in India. In fact, Sri Lankan doctors are trained in this hospital. Therefore, SAKL children receive the best medical treatment at no cost to them. In addition, SAKL children and parents receive air passage, hospital stay, and all meals completely free. Extremely destitute parents can also request further financial assistance from SAKL to cover related costs.
In Sri Lanka, there are parents who cannot afford the transport costs to reach the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH) in Colombo to get treatment for their children with CHDs. Therefore, for them, the thought of going to India to get treatment for their children is like a pipedream. However, thanks to SAKL, this is no longer a dream for such parents. Hence, SAKL calls on indigent parents to contact them and obtain life-saving surgery for their kids.
As has been the practice in the past, a team from the Rotary Club of Colombo West was at hand at the airport to greet the returning young patients who have been given a new lease on life thanks to the
generous donations of many, including the Rotary Foundation. SAKL will continue to be a beacon of hope for hundreds of children from indigent families from all over Sri Lanka who need complex heart surgery to win back their lives.
About Save A Kid’s Life (SAKL)
Since its inception in 2018, the Rotary Club of Colombo West’s SAKL project has performed more than 110 surgeries, assisting underprivileged children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) to undergo complex, lifesaving surgery. If not operated on when they are still young, these children with CHDs will not make it to adulthood.
The total amount needed to perform surgery on one child is approximately US$3,000. Complex CHD surgeries cannot be performed in Sri Lanka. Therefore, these children and their parents are sent to India for surgical operations, at extremely concessionary rates. SAKL covers the entire cost of surgery: the actual surgery as well as air passage, hospital stay, and all meals for children and their parents.
Separately, SAKL also funds the training of nurses and doctors to perform complex CHD surgeries. SAKL also assists in building hospital infrastructure in Sri Lanka not only to perform complex CHD surgeries locally, but also to cater to post-surgical care for the kids. About the Rotary Club of Colombo West (RCCW) The Rotary Club of Colombo West is one of the largest clubs in Rotary District 3220, encompassing Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The Club was chartered in 1961, and it pioneered many important projects for the community at large which include creating future leaders for Sri Lanka (by sponsoring 5 Interact and 5 Rotaract clubs); providing hydro-electricity, shelter, and sanitation facilities; conducting cataract operations; engaging in demining operations; donating life-saving medical equipment to hospitals; spreading computer literacy; teaching English to students; and solar lighting. At the same time, the Club has given leadership to the Rotary District by producing 5 District Governors and other District Officers. SAKL is RCCW’s flagship community service project.
