Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched the “Maryam Ki Masihaai” initiative, also known as the Chief Minister’s Children Heart Surgery Programme, aiming to provide free heart treatment and surgeries to over 5,000 children annually. The programme was inaugurated with the distribution of ‘Child Surgery Cards’ by the Chief Minister herself. The initiative will initially offer heart surgery services across six public hospitals and selected private hospitals, including the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) and Children’s Hospital in Lahore, as well as hospitals in Multan, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi.
Phased Expansion and Monitoring
The programme will expand in two phases. The second phase will see the inclusion of hospitals in Wazirabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, and Sargodha. An online dashboard is being developed with the help of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) to monitor the programme’s performance continuously. The initiative promises to address the previous lack of timely heart surgery facilities, which led to the unfortunate death of approximately 5,000 children each year due to heart conditions.
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Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif stated that her role in the programme feels like that of a mother dedicated to alleviating the suffering of young patients. She emphasized the programme’s goal of providing advanced heart surgery facilities to help end the grief of affected families. The initiative will also benefit children from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces, reinforcing the commitment to nationwide healthcare improvement.
Programme’s Significance and Expert Opinions
Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique highlighted the programme as a model for other provinces, emphasizing its potential to enhance pediatric heart surgery systems. The initiative will incorporate an integrated heart surgery system for children, supported by the hiring of highly skilled child cardiac surgeons. Rafique noted that if even a single child’s life is saved, the project’s noble purpose will be fulfilled. The programme also aims to improve the timely and effective delivery of heart surgeries in compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Children and teens can suffer from various heart problems, including congenital defects and conditions acquired through infections or genetic syndromes. With appropriate and timely treatment, many children with heart diseases can lead active and fulfilling lives. The Chief Minister’s Children Heart Surgery Programme is set to significantly enhance the quality and accessibility of heart care for young patients across Punjab and beyond.