Eleven heart patients return from India
By Dominic Nkolimwa
23rd March 2010
Eleven children who went to India for heart treatment came back home on Sunday. Speaking in Dar es Salaam at a function to welcome the children, Dar es Salaam Lions Club co-ordinator for heart diseases Dr Rajni Kanabar said the children were treated at Escorts hospital in the Indian capital, New Delhi.
He said by the grace of the almighty God, all the children who travelled to India for the treatment come back home safely.
Dr. Kanabar commended the Zanzibar Ministry of Health and all people who contributed to the success of the children's travel to India.
For his part, Lions Club president Shiraz Rashid called on Tanzanians to support children with heart complications.
He said Dr Kanabar had shown the way, so other people should also see the importance of providing moral and financial support to save the lives of children, especially those coming from poor families
Dr. Ali Amour of Mnazi Mmoja hospital in Zanzibar, who accompanied the children to India, said the majority of the children had congenital heart defects.
A parent of one of the children, Leah Lyimo, said her one-year-old baby, Noela Prosper, had a puncture in her heart, thus causing her, breathing problem.
Recently former prime minister Dr Salim Ahmed Salim called on Tanzanians to support Dr Rajni Kanabar in his efforts to help children with heart complications.
Dr Salim made the call at a fund-raising dinner organized by the Tanzania and India Friendship Association (TIFA) in Dar es Salaam. He said Dr Kanabar needed moral and financial support to save the lives of children, especially those coming from poor families.
“Indian President Pratibha Patil awarded Dr Kanabar with the Bharatiya Parvasi Saruman award as a recognition for the humanitarian exercise he performed. We need to build a culture of appreciating the work he has done to our people,” said Dr Salim.