Every Heartbeat Matters: Sarvodaya’s Vision Behind Free Paediatric Heart Surgeries

Congenital heart diseases (CHD), or birth defects of the heart, are among the leading causes of death in children with congenital malformations, especially in infants. Shockingly, an estimated 2 lakh children are born with CHD in India every year, yet only 27,000 surgeries are performed annually. This glaring gap stems from a lack of awareness about treatment options, inadequately equipped medical facilities, and the financial barriers faced by countless families.

At Sarvodaya, we firmly believe that no one should suffer or lose their life simply because their family cannot afford treatment. This conviction drives our mission to provide free pediatric heart surgeries to children from underprivileged backgrounds.

A Vision Rooted in Compassion

Over the years, we have encountered countless families whose lives have been upended after the diagnosis of their child. The fear and desperation lingering in their eyes are heart-wrenching.

For us, this initiative is not merely an act of charity, it is a matter of life, and we go to great lengths in giving the child a healthy heartbeat. Every child, regardless of their financial circumstances, deserves a healthy start in life, and a weak heart should never prevent a child from experiencing the joys of childhood and a healthy future.

Through these surgeries, we are not just saving lives; we are restoring hope and giving families a future free from fear. We are proud to collaborate with various partners, including NGOs in Haryana and beyond, who share our vision of healthcare equity.

Healing Young Hearts: Our Journey So Far

Our dedicated unit for Pediatric Cardiac Sciences and Surgery has made remarkable progress in addressing congenital heart diseases. To date, we have successfully treated over 1,500 young brave hearts suffering from several complex heart conditions through minimally invasive and conventional heart surgeries. Some of these include ASD Repair, VAS Repair, PDA Litigation, Arterial Switch, Glenn Shunt, Valve Repair / Replacement, Fontan Operation and more.

We have dedicated pediatric cardiac experts, with highly experienced teams for pediatric cardiologists, interventionalists, surgeons, paramedics and more. Our state-of-the-art facility comprises a well-equipped CATH Lab, Level 3 Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Echo Lab, Paediatric Ventilators and more, facilitating the advanced diagnosis for Foetal Echocardiography, Pediatric Echocardiography, Pre-operative Diagnosis and more.

Many of these life-saving procedures have been made possible thanks to the generous support of NGOs and compassionate individuals who partner with us. We are proud to stand alongside NGOs across India, including Genesis Foundation, a leading NGO in Haryana, who share our commitment to providing quality cardiac care to every child.

Spreading Awareness

Beyond surgeries, we also organise numerous health checkups and awareness camps in cities and villages across the region. These camps focus on screening children for heart issues and raising awareness about the treatment facilities and the importance of early detection and intervention.

While the massive gap between the disease and treatment persists, timely detection and intervention have a success rate of over 97%.  We believe that healthcare is a fundamental right for all and should never be a privilege reserved for the few.

Sarvodaya is proud to be a part of the network of institutions and heart care foundations in India working tirelessly towards this goal. We remain committed to healing young hearts, one heartbeat at a time.

Dr. Viresh Mahajan
Pediatric Cardiologist
Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad