Harbhajan Mann's Hearty Gesture

Harbhajan Mann also contributes for one heart surgery

Chandigarh, February 23:  There could not have been a better gift from the star Panjabi actor and singer, Harbhajan Mann, who not only came to perform free of cost for the Heartline Concert organized by Rotaract Club Chandigarh at Panjab University campus yesterday but also made his contribution for one heart surgery under the Rotary Heartline project.

Rotary Heartline project, started in 1999 by Rotary Club of Chandigarh has so far done 400 free heart surgeries for children from economically-challenged background, informed Mrs. Neena Singh, President , Rotary Club of Chandigarh. 

We deeply commend this noble gesture by an artist like Harbhajan Mann  who not only went out of his way to support the cause through his gratis performance but also contributed for the surgery of one child, she added.

Rotaract president Pragya Kapil informed that Rotaract club had been organizing the Heartline Concert to raise funds for and support the Rotary Club Chandigarh’s heartline project since 2005.

The concert began with a ramp walk by Rotaractors of DAV MCM, DAV College and Gian Jyoti Institute of Management, followed by an energetic bhangra performance by the students of Doaba college.

Upcoming artist Vineypal Buttar set the tone of the concert with his recent release dedicated to Sri Guru Gobind Singh, and popular number “Chudail”.

Harbhajan Mann started off with a prayer and moved the audience with his touching songs, “Maanwan, maanwan…”, and “Maan jannat da parchhavan…”, and later made everyone dance to his lilting foot-tapping numbers, “Le gayiaan chain churaake sajjan de akhiyaan…”, “Lalli laal dupatte wali”, and ever-green “Gallan goriyaan…”.

Rtn. Pres Neena Singh, Rtr Pres Pragya, and Harbhajan Mann released the souvenir published by Rotaract Club of Chandigarh, on this occasion. 

Four children from Malawi arrive for heart surgery

Four children out of 20 from Malawi, Africa, to be operated free of cost for congenital heart disease under the Rotary Club of Chandigarh’s Heartline project, arrived here in the city.

The offer to provide free heart surgeries for  twenty children from Malawi was made in April this year, when a team of voluntary doctors from the region led by former world president of Rotary International Rajendra K. Saboo and the then district governor Madhukar Malhotra had gone to Malawi and Zambia on a medical mission and treated patients there.

The four children who arrived from Malawi along with their  guardians included a two years old boy Brain Milanzi, suffering from atral septal defect (ASD), two six years old boys Hasting Maloya, and Patience Nkhoma, both suffering from ventral septal defect (VSD), and a 14 years old girl Prisca Patrick with Patent Ductus Arterisum diagnosis.

Rajendra K Saboo informed that all these children would be operated at one of the partner hospitals of Rotary Heartline project, Fortis Hospital Mohali, and are being admitted in the evening there.

He further stated that 10 doctors from Malawi would be sent by the Government of Malawi’s health department, for advanced short term training  in India which will be facilitated by Rotary.

Rajendra K. Saboo  who had been instrumental in starting the project of Rotary Heartline, earlier known as Gift of Life, under which Rotary Club of Chandigarh had been providing free heart surgeries to children suffering from congenital cardiac diseases since 1999.

So far 365 lives of children have been saved, he informed briefing the media here today,  and whenever there is a deserving case in and around Chandigarh, Rotary has always taken up such cases. The idea of taking up cases from other countries is to also serve beyond borders and live the eternal saying "Vasudevya Kutumbhkam" i.e. World is one family. Thus in the total surgeries done so far,there have been  2 children from Afghanistan, 6 from Nepal, 24 from Pakistan and 12 from Uganda over the years. 

   

Club Responds to Save 17 Year Old

Today's Indian Express' Chandigarh Newsline carried a story on the front page about a 17 year old Nepalese girl, Moti Kala, who was trying to collect money for her heart surgery. Suffering from congenital rheumatic heart disease, Moti Kala was running from pillar to post.
Responding to the story, our Heartline Project Chairman Rtn. PP Kewal Seth got in touch with her and got her admitted to the Fortis Hospital immediately so that she can be taken care of immediately.
What a prompt response. As you are aware that Rotary Heartline project is the saviour of children suffering from congenital cardiac disease belonging to economically challenged section of our society. And our Club has made a commitment to save the lives of such children. Since the project started in 1999, the Club has been able to save over 267 lives so far. And the credit for this goes to each and every Rotarian who has been contributing to this project and supported every time, notwithstanding the contribution of many other partners like CATS who continue to voluntarily collect blood to supprt the Heartline project.
Our special thanks to everyone who supports the lives of these little children. Please continue to support us.

11 months old girl from Pakistan saved

The Rotary Club continues to save lives of children under its Rotary Heartline project.  The project which began in 1999 has so far saved the lives of 240 children as of date, including 30 from Pakistan. 

Last week 11-months old girl, Yusra, from Pakistan arrived in Chandigarh on a special request from the Rotarians from Pakistan to Past Rotary International President R.K. Saboo. 

Fida Hussain, her father, who works as a driver in an airline company, and her mother Bushra Hussain, crossed the Wagah border to arrive in Chandigarh where Rotarians admitted her to their partner hospital, Fortis Hospital Mohali. 

The problem was discovered by parents when Yusra was barely two months old, and with no facilities in Pakistan to handle congenital cardiac disease for such a small child there was no chance of her survival.  Her father continued his search and learnt about Rotary programme being run by Rotary Club of Chandigarh. The local Rotarians got in touch with PRIP R.K. Saboo, and the child was ultimately brought to Chandigarh. 

Dr. T S Mahant, Executive Director - Cardiac Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Mohali, said, “Baby Yusra was admitted in Fortis on Aug 19 and after her initial investigations she was taken in for heart surgery on Aug 25. She was diagnosed with TOF (Tetrology of Fallots) i.e. her body used to turn blue.  I feel very happy that she has shown remarkable progress and will  be able to lead a normal life now”.

Commenting on the successful surgery, Mr. S K Duggal , president , Rotary Club, said, “Our foresmost motive is that no child should die for want of money, and if we are able to forge bridges of better understanding and goodwill amongst people across the border, as human beings, our mission is served."

200 Heartline Surgeries Completed

The Club has saved 200 children from withering away under its Rotary Heartline project. These young lives were saved by providing free heart surgery at our partner hospitals, PGI and Fortis Hospital. We are grateful to all the Rotary Angels who have continued to lend a helping hand in this noble project with their financial contribution. But the project is not over. Our promise is not to let any child die of congenital heart disease, for want of money. So let's continue to hold hands, and walk together, and gift a life.

Rotary returns Smiley's smile!

Last month, Chandigarh Newsline reported the financial support required by Smiley (14) who was suffering from congenital cardiac problem, to which Rotary Club of Chandigarh responded immediately and took her under their care.

The Club contacted the parents and Smiley was admitted to Fortis Hospital where she was operated on 4th of September and was discharged today after successful surgery to lead a normal healthy life.

Rotary Club of Chandigarh bore the entire cost of her surgery to which the students of Bhavan Vidyalaya, who are members of the Interact Club in the school promoted by Rotary Club, also contributed Rs.20,000, while hospitalization was taken care of by the club’s partner, Fortis Hospital.

“Our mission in Rotary is that no child from economically weaker section requiring cardiac surgery intervention should remain bereft of it”, said former world president of Rotary International, Rajendra K. Saboo.

Save a Life...Gift a Life!

Our project, Rotary Heartline, is one of the noblest of projects that is dedicated to save the lives of children and young people suffering from congenital cardiac disease, and who otherwise, because of their economic challenges, cannot afford the costly surgery.
What started as a Gift of Life Project in 1998 under the Rotary Foundation's matching grant project, has been carried forward by the Rotarians even after the completion of the matching grant, through their own financial resources.
For each surgery Rotarians and many of the Rotary Angels from the community, and around the world, contribute around Rs.65,000 (USD1600), for saving each life. This barely covers the cost of the consummables, and the rest of the medical support comes from our two partner hospitals, PGIMER, and the Fortis Hospital, who undertake surgery completely free of cost. The Club also contributes in terms of entire hospitality, local travelling, sight-seeing, gifts for the patients, and daily care.
We are grateful to the noble souls who continue to support this project.
You too can be a part of this noble initiative...and save a precious life.

Click here for more project details, at our Club's website: