National

There has been massive and positive support for the baby battling with a heart defect and who needs  open heart surgery.

A number of people and organisations called in asking how they can support Abner Gahaya Cyusa, the one year old who was born with Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD).

It is a condition where there are one or more holes in the wall that separates the right and left ventricles of the heart.

After reading the story that ran in The New Times, Nziza Aimable (a Rwandan based in Burundi), the Coordinator of Overseas Medical Program, Information Centre, Africa, , connected the parents of the child to a hospital in India that has offered free surgery for the little boy.

In a letter to The New Times, Nzinza says that Fortis-Malar hospital in India has promised to come to the rescue of the child.

“I got a positive response from Doctor Balakrishnan, a Cardiac Surgeon and Director of Cardiac Sciences/Fortis-Malar/Chennai. This hospital has a programme offering free treatment for children all over the world. I started the programme in Burundi but it will soon expand to Rwanda and other countries,”Nziza states in his letter.

The joyous father of the child, Benjamin Ngarambe, said he was so thrilled with the calls he got of people promising to give a helping hand.

“I am so happy with the response and thank everyone who promised to help. We, however, still need some help for other expenses such as visas and air tickets since we are now sure that treatment will be catered for. My wife and I are very grateful for the support you are showing to our child,” said Ngarambe.

In case of any help the father can be reached on +250788446679.

Contact email: maria.kaitesi[at]newtimes.co.rw