It is everyone’s wish to have a healthy baby, but Baale Hasim and his wife have faced challenges ever since they discovered that their nine-month-old baby has a heart defect.

Baale recalls discovering the heart defect when the baby was 1 month old, as he refused to breastfeed. They took their son to Kasambya Hospital, where he was then referred to Nyamitanga for treatment. At the hospital, the little boy was diagnosed with a heart defect and was further referred to the Uganda Heart Institute for specialized treatment.

The couple, who have four children, faced financial constraints and couldn't afford treatment at the Uganda Heart Institution. At this time, the Indian Association, in partnership with the Indian High Commission, Rotary Club of Ssese, and Uganda Airlines, sponsored the little boy with four others for heart surgery in India.

Speaking while flagging off the babies to India on Monday, March 25, 2024, the secretary of the Indian Association of Uganda, Sasi Kumar, mentioned that within three months, they managed to offer treatment to 11 babies. The first batch had all expenses covered by the Indian Association, in partnership with Uganda Airlines, which issued tickets at a concession rate.

David Kintu from the Rotary Club of Ssese Islands, stated their desire to contribute to the many children waiting for surgery at the Uganda Heart Institute, noting that many cannot afford the cost of surgeries.

"As Rotary, we wanted to take action to help some children receive surgery, and fortunately, we found that the Indian Association was also doing the same thing. We agreed to partner," he said.

According to UHI, 1.6 million children are born in Uganda every year, and 1% of them are born with congenital heart disease. About 800 children every year require medical intervention to address this issue.

Ritah Namyalo, the Executive Director of the Health Heart Foundation, emphasized that the capacity in Uganda cannot cope with the demand, as many families cannot afford the cost of treating heart diseases.