The heart surgery programme has benefited 6,000 disadvantaged children over the past 11 years (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The 6,000th childwith heart diseases has just received free surgery under a programme funded byVinaCapital Foundation, said CEO of the foundation Robin King Austin on January16.
The child is Truong Thi My Yen, 5, from theMekong Delta province of Kien Giang.
Truong Minh Tri, Yen’s father said his daughterwas born with heart disease, however, his family couldn’t afford surgery, and thereforesigned up for assistance of the Heart Beat Vietnam Programme.
With the assistance of the programme, Yenreceived two operations, worth a total of 240 million VND (10,600 USD). Now,she has a healthy heart and can join with her friends at school.
Over the past 11 years, the programme hasbenefited 6,000 disadvantaged children, Robin King Austin said, attributing theachievement to continuous efforts and donation of the foundation’s partnersacross 63 localities of Vietnam.
They have helped save 6,000 lives whilereleasing the same number of families from the burden of diseases and finance,she added.
According to Dao Thi Bieu, Vice President of theVinh Long province's Association for the Support ofDisabled and Orphans, the programme has funded over 500 heartoperations for local poor children since 2007.
Bieu expressed her hope that the programme willcontinue and benefit more disadvantaged kids.
The foundation has also mobilised doctors toremote areas to screen children with cardiovascular diseases.
So far, 80,000 children in 44 localities acrossthe nation have received the screening services. Over 8,000 were detected withthe diseases.-VNA
VNA
