Patna: Mangal Pandey, Bihar’s Health Minister, visited the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Patna on Tuesday to meet children who underwent critical cardiac surgeries under the Bal Hriday Yojna and Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).
During his visit to the Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) and Cardiology ICUs, Pandey interacted with children recovering from their procedures and encouraged those awaiting surgery. Calling Bal Hriday Yojna “extremely close to my heart,” he urged parents to trust the initiative, which he described as a lifeline for children with congenital heart disease.
At a free screening camp on May 14, 150 children were evaluated, with 70 shortlisted for surgery. IGIMS has successfully operated on 30 children so far, with the remaining 40 scheduled in the coming weeks.
Digha MLA Sanjeev Chaurasia, present at the event, praised the efforts of IGIMS and highlighted Pandey’s commitment to expanding access to child healthcare. IGIMS Director Binde Kumar reiterated the institute’s dedication to underprivileged families, while Deputy Director Bibhuti Prasanna Sinha said the team would “go the extra mile” to ensure no child is left untreated.
The event included a live demonstration by CTVS Head Sheel Avaneesh, who showcased a complex pediatric cardiac surgery and explained the intricacies involved. Cardiology Head Ravi Vishnu commended the efforts of his team and the RBSK unit, reaffirming their commitment to treating high-risk cases within Bihar.
State Programme Officer RBSK, Rajiva, and State Coordinator Md Imtiyaz assured continued support from the State Health Society for Bal Hriday Yojna surgeries and follow-up care. Priyankar Singh, Nodal Officer for RBSK and Bal Hriday Yojna at IGIMS, pledged that no child from Bihar would need to travel outside the state for life-saving heart surgeries.
Medical Superintendent Manish Mandal delivered the vote of thanks, appreciating every department, nursing team, and staff member for their collective effort in ensuring the success of these life-saving interventions.
The event was attended by senior doctors including Tushar, Andrew, Gautam, Chandrabhanu Chandan, Vivekanand, Satish, and several RBSK and Bal Hriday Yojna coordinators, reflecting the collaborative spirit driving this mission.
