KASH to help kids with hydrocephalus

By KESSIE TADAP
CHILDREN diagnosed with hydrocephalus, an abnormal swelling of the brain, will get support, thanks to the Karen Houji Hydrocephalus Foundation.
Karen Houji was diagnosed with the condition seven days after the funeral of her father, slain Air Niugini pilot Timothy Houji.
Her late dad’s fellow pilot cadets set up KASH (Karen Annemarie Sierra Houji medical fund) to support Karen.
The foundation aims to register as many children as possible diagnosed with hydrocephalus by next month.
Visits to three children began this week.
Launched last Friday, the foundation will support children born with hydrocephalus, which is a medical condition that causes water to build up in the brain.
This results in the abnormal swelling of the skull and limits motor coordination (movement), use of the limbs and causes speech defects.
Because many children in PNG were affected by hydrocephalus, the foundation spread its wings to cater for them.
Committee spokesman Ben Samlal said the foundation aimed to register children suffering from hydrocephalus so they could get proper medical help and support.
Samlal said it was sad many children suffering from hydrocephalus outside Port Moresby were not getting the required treatment because of financial constraints as the only qualified neurosurgeon was based at the Port Moresby General Hospital.
He said since the launching, the committee had visited a child in Wewak and two at the PMGH.
The only local qualified neurosurgeon is Dr William Kaptigau, who performed the surgical treatment for hydrocephalus known as the Shunt insertion on young Karen.
Samlal said the launch was a success in terms of publicity, which helped to harness support and make aware this medical condition which is common in PNG but not widely recognised.
Patron Dr Nakapi Tefuarani said the Health Department and the government could not afford neurosurgery and this was where public-private partnership came into play.
Tefuarani was commenting on the assurance by Air Niugini to fly hydrocephalus children with their minders to Port Moresby to get help.