Mikaele Buaserau was the 100th child that had undergone free heart surgery at the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital.
His mother Kelera Buaserau said she was thankful to the team for helping her four-year-old son.
“From the day we entered the hospital, we have felt at home and I just want to thank the team from Mumbai for saving my son,” she said.
“The fact that the surgery was done free of charge was a great relief, especially for families that struggle and we are forever grateful for that.”
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who was the chief guest at the 100th surgery celebration, said and it would be difficult to imagine a Fiji without the Sai Prema Foundation, and the Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital.
“Without them some 25,000 mothers and their children around the country would not have been served. In addition, the more than 10,000 heart screenings would not have been done.
“Without good Fijians like the Tappoo family, we would not have been here today to celebrate the 100th surgery to be performed here at the hospital – what an achievement.”
He congratulated the Tappoo family, members of the Sai Prema Foundation and staff members of the Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital.
“Our heartfelt vinaka vakalevu as well to the sterling work of Dr Shyamadeep Borgohain, Dr Kikesh Patel, Dr Madhu Mahadeva and the team from the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital in Mumbai.
“This time around, your life-saving work has extended the gift of life to a total of 22 of our children in Fiji.
“As I speak, 100 little hearts now beat soundly and effortlessly.”
Mr Rabuka said the highly specialised treatment for children could cost more than $100,000 in hospitals overseas.
“Yet here at the Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital, you will not find a billing counter, for all surgeries and treatment are done completely free of cost.
“Already, children in our neighbouring islands in the Pacific are beginning to access life-saving surgery that is performed here at the hospital, through the training centre, equipped with international video conferencing capability.”
