By Jumah Kakomo
The Indian Association of Uganda, in partnership with organizations including the Ruparelia Group, Plascon, Airtel, Rotary Club of Kampala, and the Ssese Islands community, has selected 50 Ugandan children born with congenital heart disease to undergo life-saving surgeries in India.
Research indicates that approximately 16,000 babies are born with congenital heart disease each year in Uganda. However, the country lacks the necessary medical infrastructure and capacity to treat all affected children locally.
Ritah Namyalo, founder of the Heart Healthy Foundation, emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the cost of a single heart surgery can reach up to $5,000—an amount far beyond the reach of most Ugandan families.
“This condition has become a national challenge because these surgeries cannot be performed in Uganda,” Ritah said. “We felt compelled to step in and support as many children as we can.”
She also urged expectant mothers to seek timely prenatal care to help detect such conditions early.
“Mothers should always seek medical attention as soon as they discover they’re pregnant,” Ritah advised. “Early diagnosis increases the chances of saving the baby’s life.”
Acting Chairman of the Indian Association of Uganda, Paresh Mehta, confirmed their commitment to supporting the children and revealed that the initiative is targeting over 100 surgeries in total.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I welcome you all to this event as we send off the first batch of 12 Ugandan children to undergo heart surgery, fully sponsored by the Indian Association of Uganda in partnership with Rotary and other generous contributors,” Paresh said. “Without this support, many of these children would not survive.”
Paresh highlighted that the entire process—from travel to treatment—is being handled at no cost to the patients or their caretakers. He also announced plans for India Day, an event to celebrate India’s Independence Day, which will contribute to the fundraising efforts.
“This year, we are excited to host renowned artist Guru Randhawa for the India Day celebrations. Part of the proceeds from the event will go toward funding these surgeries,” Paresh added. “This is one of the largest groups we’ve supported at once, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, including Uganda Airlines, Airtel, and Jain Samaj, for their unwavering support.”
