More East Sepik children to access specialist heart care

Children in East Sepik are set to benefit from improved access to specialist cardiac care, with the Operation Open Heart Foundation planning to establish a cardiac screening clinic at the provincial hospital.

The proposed clinic follows a two-day cardiac screening program at East Sepik provincial hospital on August 10 and 11, where 16 children were assessed for possible heart conditions

One child was diagnosed with a complex cardiac condition, while three others were identified for further surgical discussions. Six children were also found to have normal cardiac results, providing reassurance to their families.

The screening is part of the Foundation’s 2026 National Cardiac Screening Program and marks the eighth province visited this year, bringing specialist cardiac assessment closer to children and families outside major centres.

Paediatric cardiac specialist Dr Kunera Kiromat said early identification of congenital heart conditions is important, particularly among children with Trisomy 21.

“Children with Trisomy 21, commonly known as Down syndrome, have a 35–50 percent risk of having a congenital heart disease,” Dr Kiromat said.

ESP hospital paediatric specialist Dr Cecilia Pakule said the screening is helping doctors identify children whose heart conditions may otherwise remain undetected.

She said some children with underlying conditions are brought to hospital because they are failing to row normally or are experiencing delayed development.

For families living in remote parts of East Sepik, access to specialist treatment can also be difficult because of the cost and distance involved.

Dr Pakule said assistance from Air Niugini will be important for patients who need to travel for cardiac surgery.

“Some of our patients come from very remote areas with no money at all, so Air Niugini’s support will be vital for parents and patients to access surgery,” she said.

The screening program was supported by the East Sepik Provincial Health Authority, Air Niugini and BSP, which donated the portable ultrasound machine used during the assessment.

The move is expected to give children in East Sepik greater opportunity for early diagnosis, specialist assessment and access to treatment, reducing the need for families to travel long distances simply to have a child’s heart condition assessed.