The children of Dilkusha Home were bright eyed and all smiles.

It was a special day for them. They had been invited by the Sai Prema Foundation to be part of celebrations at the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Medical Centre.

The children were able to celebrate Christmas, the birthday of one of their own, Save Seruvakula turned five yesterday and it was also a surprise belated birthday celebration  for Minister for Education Rosy Akbar who celebrated her birthday two days earlier.

The children arrived in the morning and each underwent a medical check-up including heart screenings. And they ended with food, cake, ice-cream and Christmas sweets.

Santa was there as well.

The Sai Prema Foundation does this on an annual basis.

Dr Krupali Tappoo, Medical Director of Sai Prema Foundation said it was a joyous event seeing the children enjoy themselves.

She said the Sai Prema foundation’s bigger dream was to finish the 26-bed hospital by April next year.

“Our dream is to have the hospital completed by April next year, the first in the region that specifically deals with children with congenital heart disease, ” she said.

“So far 7000 Fijians  have been served free of charge with medical consultations, treatment and medication through the Sanjeevani Medical Centre.

450 children have been screened for heart disease at our free children’s heart screening centre.

As part of our food for the poor, regular groceries and meals have been distributed to underprivileged and needy families to provide for 66,000 meals so far.

As part of our Gift of Life free heart surgeries project, our visiting surgeons conducted surgeries on 71 poor children suffering from congenital heart disease in the last 3 years.”

The new children’s hospital being constructed by the Foundation has a project cost of  around $25 million.

This hospital will conduct free heart surgeries and treatments to children with congenital heart disease.

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