KABUL (SW): The number of children, who suffer from Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) or hole in their heart has increased but the treatment remains out of many people’s reach.
Miram Sedaqat, spokesman for the Red Crescent Society (RCS) in Afghanistan, told Salam Watandar that the Society send 25 to 30 children abroad for the treatment each month.
He said that India is among the countries, which cooperates with Afghanistan in this regard.
An awareness program is set to be launched about the VSD in all provinces shortly.
Doctors and nurses will visit provinces to raise awareness among parents. Considering the uptick in VSD in Afghanistan, the Red Crescent Society has expressed determination to establish two hospitals to speed-up the treatment of the patients.
VSD is a disease, which affects children in an early age. The symptoms include pneumonia, pale complexion and sudden unconsciousness. The symptoms with newborns includes constant crying and weight loss while the symptoms in some patients are seen when they turn 20 years old.
Sedaqat added that the number of the patients are on the rise with each passing day. He said, ever since the RCS has started treatment for this disease almost a decade ago, it has registered 9457 cases out of which 4230 have been cured.
He further said that the RCS helps to cure 1,000 children each year. The treatment of the patients are ensured through the memorandum of understandings (MoU) signed with India and Pakistan.
The department has signed another 5-year MoU with India based on which $ 1 million aid would be granted to the RCS on annual basis for this very purpose.
Fatema Naseer, responsible for the VSD program at the RCS, said that the cause of the disease is not known yet but lack of access to health centers, lack of awareness among the pregnant mothers makes things worst. She said the increase in the number of VSD patients does not mean the problem did not existed in the past.
ENDS
