THE number of children with heart disease in the country is increasing at an alarming rate. According to Kids Heart Foundation, about 8,000 children are born in the country every year. Of them, at least 200 children are born with heart disease.
Especially in district and upazila level health centres, there are no necessary facilities for diagnosing and treating children with heart disease.
As a result, most families are forced to seek help from specialized hospitals in Dhaka. But even in the capita, this medical system is not adequate.
According to the National Institute of Cardiology and Hospitals (NICVD), there are currently only 53 pediatric cardiologists and only 15 pediatric cardiac surgeons in the country.
It is practically impossible to treat the large number of children with heart disease with such a small number of specialists. As a result, many children die without receiving timely treatment.
Experts say, it is now necessary to create skilled surgeons, build modern medical infrastructure, and provide government subsidies for the treatment of pediatric heart disease.
In addition, it is important to raise awareness among parents so that regular health check-ups and primary screening are done from the moment the child is born. According to doctors, in most cases, the cause of the disease remains unknown.
The disease can rarely occur due to genetic reasons. Detecting heart disease in a baby after birth can often be life-saving.
In many other countries of the world, 8-10 children per thousand are born with congenital heart disease. But this number is much higher in Bangladesh.
The latest data from NICVD says, currently four to five lakh children in the country are suffering from heart disease. Of these, 90 percent are born with congenital heart disease.
On the other hand, 10 percent develop the disease after birth due to fever, infection, or weakness of the heart muscle.
Every year, 30-40 thousand children are diagnosed with heart disease in the country, which is a concern for public health.
Due to the lack of medical facilities, treatment for children with heart disease is becoming impossible for low- and middle-class families.
This treatment is very expensive. Therefore, it is essential to establish pediatric cardiology centers not only in the capital but also in divisional cities. It is the responsibility of the state to ensure the well-being of children.
The state must also pay attention to ensuring that no child loses his life due to lack of medical facilities in the future.
