CABINET has approved financing of $9.4M, the equivalent of US$44,750, for a team from the International Children’s Heart Foundation (Baby Heart) to perform cardiac operations on 18 children, when they visit Guyana from June 18 to July 2.A release from the Ministry of the Presidency has noted that the team would also provide technical support to the Paediatric Surgical Cardiac Programme at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

It was noted that Government had previously approved a subsidy of about US$5,000 for each cardiac intervention to be done overseas. However, in order to reduce the cost, the Ministry of Public Health, through subject Minister Dr. George Norton, had sought international support to have the surgeries done locally.

The International Children’s Heart Foundation, also known as Baby Heart, is a medical charity that assembles volunteer medical teams from around the world. The group had indicated its willingness to, for the fifth time, provide support to Guyana in the area of paediatric cardiology.