Page 154 - KZN Top Business Portfolio 2018

LENMED ETHEKWINI HOSPITAL
AND HEART CENTRE

Lenmed Group Chairman General Manager:
& CEO: Prakash Devchand Niresh Bechan
www.ehhc.co.za

THE CHILDREN’S CARDIAC FOUNDATION the only private hospital offering paediatric cardiac
surgery in KwaZulu-Natal. This facility is unique with
OF AFRICA a multidisciplinary 14-member team representing 10
Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre paediatric sub-disciplines, perhaps the only private
recently hosted a tribute to internationally renowned facility in South Africa to have this many paediatric
cardiothoracic surgeon Prof Rob Kinsley at the Oyster sub disciplines,” said Bechan.
Box Hotel, where The Children’s Cardiac Foundation of Prof Kinsley’s inspiration was Dr Christaan Barnard who
Africa, a non-profit organisation, which aims to help conducted the world’s first human heart transplant at
children with cardiac conditions who cannot afford the Groote Schuur Hospital in 1967, with Prof Kinsley’s
medical care, was introduced.
career in cardiac surgery taking off in 1968. According
This event was a celebration of the past and the to Prof Kinsley, thousands of children in KZN born with
future, marking Prof Kinsley’s 50 years of performing congenital heart defects cannot afford private health
open heart surgery with him having performed over care and were unable to get the necessary treatment
15000 surgeries. due to a serious skills shortage. “The plan is to start
This significant celebration honoured the Heart in KZN with Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart
Guru Prof Rob Kinsley and presented the living Centre and then look at how we can help with cases
legacy he has envisaged, The Children’s Cardiac across Africa,” said Kinsley.
Foundation of Africa. According to chairman and CEO of Lenmed Group
Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre Prakash Devchand, a solution to the paediatric
Manager Niresh Bechan said, “Prof Rob Kinsley has cardiac problem in Africa is The Children’s Cardiac
been performing cardiac surgery for as long as I have Foundation of Africa. “This foundation will provide
been alive. For me, it is most satisfying to part of a training to doctors and support skills development of
team that is giving life and to create the opportunity nurses. The need is a reality; much support is needed
to save lives. It is an unexplainable feeling. It is truly to sustain this vision. Lenmed, together with the team
humbling to have Prof Rob Kinsley on our paediatric of the foundation want to ensure that we can touch
team at Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre, and save more lives.”

} Chairman and CEO of Lenmed Group Prakash Devchand and Cardiothoracic Surgeon Prof Rob Kinsley unveil The Children’s
Cardiac Foundation of Africa
152