Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital (SSSH), Palwal, today celebrated a major milestone in pediatric healthcare partnership: the successful completion of over 100 free, life-saving heart surgeries for children suffering from Congenital Heart Defects (CHD), made possible through its strategic partnership with the Rotary Club of Delhi South (RCDS).
The achievement was celebrated at the SSSH Palwal campus in the presence of SSSH Founding Trustee Mr. Vivek N. Gour, Indian Medical Association (IMA) President Dr. Sunil Chechi, AKS Nitin Mehta, Rotary Club of Bombay Airport and Prof Dr. Manish Dhawan, President, Rotary Club of Delhi South and members of RCDS. Forged in 2023-24 under Rotary’s flagship global ‘Gift of Life’ initiative, this medical-civic alliance has rapidly accelerated grassroots pediatric cardiac care.
Welcoming the dignitaries and highlighting the hospital’s core mission, Mr. Vivek N. Gour, Founding Trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital, said:
“At Sathya Sai Sanjeevani, we believe that high-quality healthcare is a fundamental human right, not a financial privilege. Reaching this 100-surgery milestone with the Rotary Club of Delhi South is a testament to what can be achieved when clinical excellence meets compassionate civic action. Together, we are not just mending hearts; we are giving these children a lifetime of possibilities, completely free of charge.”
The highlight of the celebration was a virtual address by Chief Guest and cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar, joining via Zoom. Speaking passionately in his capacity as a Trustee of the Sri Sathya Sai Health and Education Trust, Gavaskar inspired attendees by detailing the vast ecosystem of humanitarian work being done across the country.
“The scale of selfless service being delivered here—spanning critical maternal and childcare, the treatment of congenital heart defects, and vital vocational skilling—is transforming the fabric of our communities,” said Sunil Gavaskar. “I want to personally congratulate the individual donors, the Rotary Club of Delhi South, the Rotary Club of Bombay Airport, and all the collaborating sister clubs across the globe. Your benevolence and unwavering support are giving these children the ultimate gift: a second lease on life.”
Dr. Sunil Chechi, President of the Indian Medical Association, praised the operational synergy between the hospital and the civic group:
“Merging world-class pediatric cardiac surgery with an infrastructure that runs entirely on volunteerism and corporate empathy is a rare, exemplary feat. The medical team at Sathya Sai Sanjeevani and the Rotary Club are setting a new standard for public health interventions in India.”
Addressing India’s Silent Pediatric Health Crisis
The partnership directly addresses a critical healthcare gap in India, where access to specialized pediatric cardiology remains limited and expensive. Highlighting the scale of this national crisis, Dr. Paramvir Singh, Head of Pediatric Cardiology at SSSH Palwal, noted that over 200,000 children are born with congenital heart defects every year in India, and nearly 70,000 require surgical intervention within their very first year.
“Due to extreme poverty, a lack of specialized care, and delayed diagnosis, thousands of children unfortunately do not receive timely treatment,” stated Dr. Singh. “Partnerships like this are literally life-saving, ensuring that world-class medical care is accessible to those who need it most, completely free of cost.”
A Global Coalition of Compassion
To date, the Rotary Club of Delhi South has mobilized approximately Rs. 10 crores (INR 100 million) for the ‘Gift of Life’ project to fund surgeries at SSSH Palwal and other centers. This robust funding model combines Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, crowdfunding, and international Rotary collaborations.
The campaign has garnered significant global backing, including partnerships with the Rotary Club of Berlin International (Germany), the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne (USA), various Rotary Clubs across Mumbai and Delhi, and matching grants from Rotary International’s ‘World Fund’.
Past President Nitin Mehta, Chairman of the ‘Gift of Life’ project from the Rotary Club of Bombay Airport, who was instrumental in securing a massive global grant of USD 370,000 for 2025-26, was present at the hospital event and added:
“With the success of every surgery, we are inspired to do more. This year, we aim to double our Global Grant funds, leveraging the collective power of Rotary to give the gift of life to children who otherwise would not have had a chance at survival.”
Emphasizing the future roadmap, Rtn. Kriti Makhija, Project Leader for ‘Gift of Life’ at RCDS, said:
“These children are the real heroes, and seeing them smile post-surgery is our ultimate return. We are delighted that we have been able to support 500+ children since we started and are constantly innovating our fundraising—leveraging robust global grants, crowdfunding, and strategic CSR partnerships like Vandhana International—to ensure no child is ever denied life-saving heart surgery due to financial constraints.”
With a renewed commitment, Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital and the Rotary Club of Delhi South pledged to expand the program to reach even more families from economically weaker sections across the region in the coming year.
