A team of doctors recently performed successful open heart surgery on the first 10 of 35 children slated for medical attention this year under the Jamaica Foundation for Cardiac Disease (JFCD) “Hearts Alive for 35” campaign.

The children were between three months and 10 years old.

The surgeries, performed at the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC), were carried out by a combined team of Jamaican and medical personnel from the Caribbean Heart Menders Association in Florida.

Dr Roger Irvine, BHC cardiothoracic surgeon, said the children are doing well. A few of them have since been released from the hospital.

Dr Charmaine Scott, paediatric cardiologist said she was “pleased” to see the completion of the first group of 35 children that is slated for surgery in 2003.

Professor Ian Balfour, a Jamaican cardiologist, based in the US, also visited Jamaica recently and performed specialised catheriterisation procedures on young children as part of the preparation for open-heart surgery. Scott assisted Professor Balfour during the procedures.

These two visits were funded by the JFCD under its “Heartbeats Alive for 35” Fundraising campaign, which seeks to raise J$5 million to undertake open heart surgery on 35 children this year.

The fundraising programme was launched on February 27, 2003.

In addition, the Foundation also received support in the form of meals, water, snacks juice and coffee, as well as local transportation for the visiting medical team and the Jamaican team.

“The successful operations on the children could not have been achieved without the support of the corporate community, the Blood Bank, as well as our Caring Committee made up of volunteers,” said Beverley Dinham Spencer, president.

The Foundation will host the UK-based Chain of Hope team in November 2003 as part of the effort to achieve this year’s targets. Arrangements are also being made for approximately five children to be sent to other heart centres for their surgeries.