Fortis Hospitals and Fitness Fight Club initiate 200 cardiac surgeries for underprivileged children

Bengaluru, November 19, 2016: Fortis Healthcare joined hands with VS- The Austin Foundation, The Needy Heart Foundation, White Collar Bouts (WCB) and Fitness Fighting Club to conduct 200 free cardiac surgeries for underprivileged children over the next year. The funds were raised through the boxing and kickboxing fight night, White Collar Bouts which was held in Taj West End, Bangalore earlier this evening. The event featured 8 White Collar Bouts of boxing and kickboxing and all the proceeds from the event will be directed to heart surgeries for underprivileged children.

Mr Austin Prakesh, Founder of Fitness Fight Club and WCB said “Over the past few months, we have worked immensely hard along with the fighters, all sponsors, partners, friends and family to make WCB 2016 a reality. The knowledge that we will be touching 200 lives and helping children get a second shot at life makes all of that work worth the effort. Through such an event, we’re hoping to inspire people who lead unfit lives to wake up and do something about their sedentary lives and have an experience in the ring to last them a lifetime. All of this, while contributing to a cause is truly a special feeling.”

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in the pediatric population of both the developing and developed countries. It is a defect in the structure of the heart and great vessels of a newborn. One in every 125 babies born has congenital heart defects, which incidentally, is also the most common birth defect. Many of these children will have curable conditions and with good long-term prognosis. CHD can be managed effectively with a combination of lifestyle changes, medicine and, in some cases, surgery.

Dr Joseph Xavier, Consultant Adult and Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon said “Every year about 1.5Lac infants are born with congenital heart disease and many of them die because of inability to access health facilities equipped to deal with pediatric cardiac surgical treatment. We want to make heart surgeries affordable to the underprivileged without any compromise in quality and standard. We have operated on about 1200 children over the last six year and look forward to treat more such children”

Dr. Manish Mattoo, Zonal Director at Fortis Hospitals said “Our focus is to raise awareness amongst all section of the society, thereby hoping that they will contribute their might to help forge public private partnerships in addressing this problem. The burden of congenital heart disease is more in India with the lowest income and highest fertility rate. We are supporting this charitable event as it will provide children with congenital heart disease, a chance at a new start in life.”