News | ‘It’s very shocking at first, but then you learn to live with the disease’

In Argentina, one in every 100 babies is born with a heart malformation that occurs during fetal life. A congenital heart disease. According to the Argentine Society of Pediatrics (SAP), it is the most common abnormality in newborns and is considered the leading cause of death in the first year of life. In November 2022, the House of Representatives discussed projects to detect and prevent these congenital heart diseases. Santiago Garrido (27) has been suffering from heart disease since he was 18 and was diagnosed in 2014 after contracting mononucleosis during a graduation trip. I then spoke with my lifelong pediatrician, Dr. Eduardo Ordás, whom I knew…especially his dedication, and I went to Buenos Aires and they told My life span is only 20 to 30 years. It’s very difficult. I came to Balcarce and was met by Dr. Sanchez, where he confirmed my diagnosis. It was a sad moment, but I was able to leave because I knew I would have to take medication for the rest of my life,” he explained.

“It was very shocking at first, but then you learn to live with this disease. Today I’m an environmental technician, I do yoga, I keep training, I keep going. Ultimately, that’s what it’s about, despite what happens Everything, still goes on,” he concluded.

“We are happy that this law has been regularized. It applies to all situations in life as it allows for timely detection and appropriate treatment. But there is no doubt that this is a transcendent step. At the same time, through Expand, We spoke about our experiences and listened to families at the time of diagnosis, which had a very strong emotional impact,” Santiago said.

What does the specification say?

Standard 27,713 gives legal status to the National Congenital Heart Disease Programme, which since its creation in 2008 has met the needs of more than 20,000 girls and boys undergoing surgery and reduced the waiting list for these interventions from 1,000 to zero. According to official information.

Going forward, the challenge for the National Congenital Heart Disease Program is to ensure care for those girls and boys who grow up, survive and require specific adult care, according to the regulations. At the same time, it seeks to strengthen prenatal diagnosis and drive all subsectors to improve access and quality of care for this problem.

Finally, the right of all pregnant or pregnant women to prenatal care, including early detection, is also guaranteed.