‘Save a Kid’s Life’ Initiative Completes 7 Years; Over 140 Sri Lankan Children Receive Heart Surgeries

The Rotary Club of Colombo West along with Rotary Club of Kochi west, today marked seven years of its flagship medical initiative, ‘Save a Kid’s Life’ in Colombo. The project has helped provide life-saving heart surgeries to over 140 Sri Lankan children.
 
 
 
Stakeholders, medical professionals, and families of beneficiaries gathered to reflect on the project’s achievements since its launch in 2017. The programme facilitates free surgeries for children with complex congenital heart defects at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi, India. Further, High Commission of India has also provided visa on gratis basis to the children and their families.
 
 
 
In addition to funding surgeries, the initiative has also trained Sri Lankan nurses and supported improvements in local hospital capacity.
 
 
The Rotary Club announced plans to scale up operations and perform 50 surgeries in the current year. Project Chairman Rtn. Sebastian Karunakaran said the need remains urgent, with over 2,300 children still awaiting treatment. The initiative is backed by the Rotary Foundation, international clubs, and individual donors across both countries.