36 children diagnosed under operation open heart program in Madang

The Operation Open Heart Foundation has recorded 36 cases in Madang Province this year under its annual medical program.

The patients are mostly children who were registered with the Modilon General Hospital for review.

A team of specialist pediatricians from Port Moresby, led by the country’s Chief Pediatrician Dr. Cornelia Kilalang, visited Madang last week to carry out medical reviews.

Over two days, the team conducted scans on 36 children aged between three months and sixteen years.

According to Dr Tina Yarong, a pediatrician based in Madang, most of the children reviewed were follow-up patients with conditions such as holes in the heart and other heart deformities.

Dr Yarong said several of the cases were serious and will be referred to Port Moresby for surgery in the coming months.

This year, two heart patients from Madang were sent to Port Moresby for surgery and are now recovering well.

Dr Tina Yarong explained that there are various causes of heart problems in children, some are born with the condition, while others develop it after birth.

The youngest patient reviewed last week was a three month old baby, and the oldest was a sixteen year old girl.

On behalf of the doctors who conducted the scans last week and the entire Operation Open Heart team, Dr. Yarong extended her appreciation to all sponsors for their continued support in ensuring the program runs each year to help heart patients across the country.

Dr Yarong is also urging parents to quickly take their children to the hospital for checkup if they see any unusual changes in them.

She said the earlier such problems are detected, the better, so they can be treated quickly.

Dr. Yarong is urging parents to take their children to the hospital for checkups as soon as they notice any unusual changes in their health.

She said early detection is important, as it allows doctors to treat such conditions quickly.