Project to correct birth defects launched

CHANDIGARH, SEPT 15: In a new project, the Rotary Shivalik, Chandigarh, will come to the aid of the needy and pay for surgery for birth defects. Under project Life of Dignity8217;, for which Rs 10.5 lakh have been granted, restorative surgery for birth defects will be carried out.

The first case of a baby with a defective lip was operated upon by a team of doctors led by Dr G.S. Kochhar. The team which will be involved in this project includes Dr Yogesh Kaplash, plastic surgeon, Dr Padaman Singh, orthopaedician, Dr Sandhu, paediatric surgeon, Dr Avtar Singh, anaethetist, Dr Gurjit Singh, eye surgeon and Dr S.C. Pandhi.

According to Dharinder Tayal, president of Rotary Shivalik, this project is one of its kind undertaken in this part of the country and one for which genuinely needy cases are being identified. Dr Kochhar said that birth defects affect about 1 to 2 per cent of new born babies, for which timely restorative surgery is a must.

Col P.S. Vohra, former president of Rotary Shivalik, said that for the surgery, the entire expenditure would be spent by the Rotary, including food, stay, medicines and dressing. quot;The facility will be available 24 hours,quot; he added.