Kerala Health Minister Visits Nepalese Girl After Historic Heart Transplant

Kochi: Health Minister Veena George visited Durga Kami, a Nepalese girl undergoing treatment at Ernakulam General Hospital after receiving a heart transplant, the first of its kind at a government hospital. She also met Durga’s brother, Tilak, and other companions at the hospital. The girl’s health is steadily improving. The minister communicated with the doctors, who assured that she is receiving the best possible care. A team of specialists supports the hospital staff, evaluating the patient’s condition daily and consulting with the general hospital team.

This marks the first successful heart transplant at a district -level hospital in the country. The heart transplanted belonged to S Shibu (46) from Chirakkara, Kollam, who suffered brain death. On Minister Veena George’s recommendation, extensive facilities were set up at Ernakulam General Hospital to perform the heart transplant. The hospital has also, for the first time in the country, successfully carried out valve replacement surgery without opening the heart and kidney transplants during this period, paving the way for the heart transplant.

The Nepalese girl, an orphan, received special permission from the court to be cared for in Kerala. She has only one surviving younger sibling. Both her mother and elder sister had died from hereditary heart disease, which she also suffered from. With no one to care for them, the girl and her brother had been living in an orphanage. They came to Kerala for treatment due to the high cost of care. The orphanage was managed by a Malayali who facilitated their treatment in Kerala.

MLA T J Vinod, K SOTTO, Executive Director Dr. Nobile Gracious, DMO Dr. Sheeja, Hospital Superintendent Dr. Shahirsha, Dr. George Valooran, Dr. Geo Paul, Dr. Lijo George, and Dr. Paul Thomas were also present.