President Lalabalavu Commends Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children's Hospital for Life-Saving Pediatric Heart Surgeries

The President of Fiji, His Excellency Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, has praised the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children's Hospital for its dedication to providing life-saving heart surgeries for children in Fiji and the Pacific.

During a meeting at the State House, President Lalabalavu commended Mr. Sumeet Tappoo, Chairman of the hospital and Director of the Sai Prema Foundation, Dr. Krupali Rathod Tappoo, Director of the Children's Heart Hospital, and Mr. Mahendra Tappoo, Chair of the Sai Prema Foundation, for their unwavering commitment to pediatric healthcare.

The hospital, established as a state-of-the-art pediatric cardiac super-specialty facility, offers free life-saving heart surgeries to children suffering from congenital heart disease, addressing a critical gap in Fiji’s healthcare system. Since the launch of the Gift of Life program, over 300 children from Fiji and neighboring Pacific Island nations have received free heart surgeries.

Fiji has one of the highest recorded rates of congenital heart disease in children, underscoring the urgent need for specialized pediatric cardiac care. The hospital’s work aligns with a global humanitarian mission spearheaded by its founder, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan, which spans 32 countries.

President Lalabalavu highlighted that the hospital has conducted more than 29,000 heart screenings for children, with its outreach extending to orphanages, aged-care homes, and rural and maritime communities.

"The fact that these critical heart surgeries and screenings are provided free of charge reflects an extraordinary degree of compassion and service to humanity. We are inspired by your life-saving work,” said President Lalabalavu.

He also commended Mr. and Dr. Tappoo for returning to Fiji despite their professional success abroad, urging other Fijians to give back to their homeland.

Mr. Sumeet Tappoo reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to providing 100% free services and encouraged more Fijians to return and serve.

"When there is no billing counter, the economics are taken care of, and you just serve the people," he stated.

The hospital, which is preparing to celebrate its third anniversary, is equipped with world-class medical facilities, including a catheterization lab, operation theatre, intensive care unit, and a training center with advanced international video conferencing capabilities.

It has been recognized as one of the best medical facilities in the region, meeting the standards of hospitals in the USA, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.