Mark Beckford, Gleaner Writer

At least 10 children are set to be the recipients of free open heart surgery from the non-profit organisation, the Jamaica Children Heart Fund Inc. (JCHF). The voluntary medical team, which will be providing their expertise from Monday to Thursday of this week, was fted at a reception at King's House Saturday night.

Team members, who have been performing the free surgeries for the past two years, outlined their plans for the week, while stressing the importance of contributions to the cause to ensure that more children with congenital and acquired heart diseases are helped.

Head of the surgical team, Dr. Richard Perryman, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, said the monetary donations are essential so that more children can be assisted. "The more supplies we can buy the more trips we can make and the more children we can take care of..." Dr. Perryman also stressed the long-term importance of these visits to Jamaica.

"Most of the children we operate on are children who have the kind of heart disease that once they are corrected should go on to a fairly normal life," he said.

The reception also saw the launch of the King's House Action Committee for Medical Volunteers. The committee was designed by the Governor-General to host medical professionals, such as the JCHF, who visit the island to give service and to provide assistance. Chairman of the newly formed committee, William 'Bill' Clarke, said the focus of the committee will be to "demonstrate in a tangible way appreciation to the many medical professionals who visit the island each year."

The team, which is on its first visit to the island for the year, has assisted 96 children to date, since the inception of the venture.