Implemented by: Rotary Club of Pune Heritage

Location: Pune

As the only government hospital in Western Maharashtra providing pediatric surgical services, Sassoon’s Pediatric Surgical Unit handles 5000-6000 cases annually, with 1500-2000 requiring surgery. Despite dedicated efforts, limited equipment has led to a 9% overall mortality rate, with 85% of deaths occurring in neonates due to factors such as sepsis and respiratory failure. To address these challenges, our project, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Pune Heritage, complements Global Grant GG 2232732 to establish a pediatric laparoscopy surgery setup. Our initiative focuses on activating an additional operation theater and procuring new equipment for cystoscopy and neonatal surgery and monitoring. This intervention is expected to reduce mortality rates by 30-40% and decrease referrals to more expensive hospitals, benefiting the low- and middle-income population of Pune and neighboring districts. By strengthening Sassoon Hospital’s pediatric surgical infrastructure, we aim to provide better services and improve health outcomes for approximately 6000 children admitted annually, of whom 2000 require surgical intervention.