One in every 100 newborns hit by heart disease in Pakistan: Webinar

LAHORE: One in every 100 newborns is affected by congenital heart disease in Pakistan, and of them 70pc need medication or surgery within their first year, warned webinar titled “Approach to Congenital Heart Diseases in Children,” organized by the ChildLife Foundation.
The session featured Dr. Abdul Sattar, Head of Pediatric Cardiology at NICVD, as the guest speaker, with Dr. Irfan Habib, Medical Director at the ChildLife Foundation was moderator. 
The webinar covered a range of topics including an overview of congenital heart diseases in children, identification of key symptoms and early signs, diagnostic techniques, case studies, and real-life examples. It aimed at providing pediatricians with a comprehensive understanding of congenital heart diseases, emphasizing early recognition and timely intervention.
Doctors, residents, and physicians working in public sector hospitals, particularly those at secondary care facilities in districts and tehsils across the country attended the webinar. The session aimed to enhance the capabilities of government doctors, equipping them with essential knowledge and skills to handle challenges in pediatric emergency care.
The ChildLife Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing child mortality in Pakistan, organized the webinar to improve emergency care and develop collaboration with the public sector. 
The foundation aims to reduce child mortality by at least 50pc through improved emergency care, supporting government doctors by ensuring they are up-to-date with the latest practices and emerging needs in pediatric emergency care through such educational initiatives.