Work is underway to establish the South Pacific’s first Children’s Heart Hospital in Nasese, Suva.

Through a Private Public Partnership with Health Ministry, the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Medical Centre will be spearheading this project.

Sai Prema Foundation coordinator, Dr Krupali Tappoo says the Hospital will provide specialized heart services for free to children.

Dr Tappoo says Fiji will be leading the way as the first in the region to establish a dedicated heart hospital.

She adds while Australia and New Zealand have pediatric cardiac services available, they do not have a dedicated specialist Children’s Heart Hospital.

The Foundation also opened the Pacific’s first heart screening center yesterday.

This center will provide free screening to children through the latest Technology, Echocardiography Machine from New Zealand.