More than 100 children diagnosed with heart defects in Eastern Highlands

Over 100 children in Eastern Highlands Province have been diagnosed with heart defects, following a cardiac screening program conducted at Goroka Provincial Hospital.

Head of Pediatrics at Goroka Provincial Specialist Hospital, Dr Casparia Mond, confirmed that a total of 103 children, aged between one month and 17 years, were screened for possible heart surgery.

“From this number, ten children were selected for operations. Seven will undergo open-heart surgery while three will have closed-heart operations in Port Moresby. Others with mild complications will be treated and closely monitored,” Dr Mond said.

He said most common conditions seen in Papua New Guinea are rheumatic heart disease, which acquired as a result of infections, and congenital heart defects, which children are born with.

The screening was carried out last week by a team from the Operation Open Heart Foundation, led by Port Moresby General Hospital pediatrician Dr Kunera Kiromat and National Department of Health pediatrician Dr Diana Olita’a, both specialists in pediatric cardiology.

They were supported by EHPHA pediatricians Dr Villa Watch, Dr Dasha Pomat, Dr Casparia Mond, registrar Dr Whitney Ruape, and resident medical officer Dr Michael Nava.

Dr Mond said the cardiac screening program is part of ongoing efforts by the Operation Open Heart Foundation, which sends pediatric cardiology specialists to provincial hospitals for one to two days to conduct echocardiograms on children suspected of having heart disease.