Hrithik
Roshan
has
sponsored
the
surgical
operations
of
10
children
of
the
Seven
Hills
Medical
Foundation
(SHMF)'s
paediatric
programme
in
the
Mumbai
suburb
of
Andheri.
Dr
Bhujang
Pai,
Head
of
Radiology
SHMF,
says,
"We
have
started
a
Save
A
Heart
programme
as
a
public
initiative.
We
do
lots
of
free
open-heart
surgeries.
We
thought
of
getting
someone
who
is
very
fond
of
kids
and
who
kids
are
fond
of
as
the
face
of
our
programme.
I
know
Hrithik
and
his
family.
We
are
family
friends.
I
asked
his
parents
if
we
could
get
him
involved
in
this
programme
in
any
way."
Dr
Pai
continues,
"Hrithik
not
only
agreed
to
be
the
face
of
the
SHMF
scheme
for
children,
but
also
donated
Rs.
15
lakh
for
the
heart
operation
and
post-operative
care
of
10
children
who
registered
in
the
scheme."
Says
the
doc,
"Lakhs
of
children
are
born
in
India
with
heart
defects.
Because
of
lack
of
proper
infrastructure
and
financial
assistance,
most
die
before
their
first
birthday.
Nearly
eight
in
every
thousand
children
are
born
with
a
congenital
heart
defect.
Through
this
scheme,
poor
parents
won't
have
to
run
from
pillar
to
post
for
their
children's
medical
treatment.
We
want
to
reach
out
to
people
in
a
big
way
and
so
Hrithik's
hoardings
will
be
all
over
India."
The
heart
surgery
of
each
baby
costs
a
lakh
and
a
half
rupees
and
Hrithik
donated
the
amount
immediately
so
these
operations
could
take
place
as
soon
as
possible.
"We
have
a
scheme
where
if
someone
pays
R
1.5
lakh
for
the
heart
surgery
of
a
baby
he
can
adopt
the
baby.
The
baby
will
send
him
a
card
on
his
birthday
as
he's
saved
his/her
life
etc," added
the
doctor.
Story first published: Friday, January 28, 2011, 13:58 [IST]