50 more underprivileged children will benefit from free paediatric heart surgeries through Aster Volunteers’ Heart2Heart Cares 2024

DUBAI: Aster Volunteers, the global CSR arm of Aster DM Healthcare, has successfully concluded the fourth edition of ‘Heart2Heart Cares 2024’, a program spanning the GCC and India, aimed at promoting heart health and saving the lives of underprivileged children in need of heart surgery.

On the evening of November 3, Zabeel Park came alive with a Mega Walk, engaging over 3,000 volunteers in a grand celebration to mark the completion of 10,000 steps, with the highest achievers in both the male and female categories being rewarded.

The Mega Walk was flagged off by Brigadier Ghalib Al-Ghafli, Director of Al Rifa’a Police Station, Dubai, and Mr. Shamsudheen Bin Muhidheen, Non-Executive Director of Aster DM Healthcare – India, who led the walk. The cultural show at the Amphy Theater of the park featured a variety of performances representing different countries and was inaugurated by HE Zahir Abdelfadil Agab, the Consul General of the Republic of Sudan in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, who released balloons and a white dove, symbolising peace, freedom, and love.

Ms. Alisha Moopen, Managing Director & Group CEO, Aster DM Healthcare GCC, commented on the initiative, stating, “Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide, responsible for almost one-third of all deaths.[1] Tragically, this includes congenital heart disease (CHD), which affects a staggering 1.3 million children annually – or 10 children born every five minutes – many of whom lack access to life-saving treatment.[2] In India alone, over 200,000 children are born with CHD each year[3], and it is estimated that 25 percent of children born with CHD will require surgical intervention within their first year to survive.2 For families without the means to afford this critical care, these conditions often result in heartbreaking loss.

“Through the ‘Heart2Heart Cares 2024′ initiative, Aster Volunteers is empowering communities to improve their fitness while supporting those in need. We are thrilled by the overwhelming participation this year, with over 23,000 registrants, marking a significant increase from last year. This collective effort will help provide heart surgeries for 50 underprivileged children, highlighting the incredible impact of community support.”

The fourth edition of Aster Volunteers’ Heart2Heart Cares witnessed exceptional engagement, with over 23,000 participants worldwide, predominantly from the Middle East & Africa and Asia Pacific regions. Over a month, they undertook the challenge of walking 10,000 steps daily, symbolising their commitment to both personal health and the welfare of underprivileged children. Through this remarkable effort, Aster DM Foundation and its associated hospitals are fulfilling their pledge to provide life-saving paediatric cardiac surgeries for 50 children in need, free of charge. The initiative, which commenced on World Heart Day, ran for a month until November 3, 2024, encouraging individuals to register online at heart2heart.astervolunteers.com and commit to the walk.

The closing event at Zabeel Park was a vibrant and joyous occasion where Team Aster Volunteers organised a range of entertainment activities and performances to emphasise the importance of healthy living. Participants who completed the highest number of steps were recognised and awarded for their outstanding contributions.

[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10809869/

[2] https://childrensheartlink.org/congenital-heart-disease-facts/

[3] https://www.indianpediatrics.net/dec2018/dec-1075-1082.htm