Illustrative image. Photo: VCF

The activities were sponsored FedEx, and supported by doctors from Tam Duc Heart Hospital, City Children's Hospital and officials the above provinces to bring the opportunity of getting heart scanning at least once in a lifetime to the children.

In Lam Dong, from May 3 – 4, of 712 children received heart scanning, diagnosed 29 cases of congenital heart defects that need heart surgeries and further follow - ups.

In Kien Giang, from May 10 – 11, of 901 children received heart scanning, diagnosed 17 cases of congenital heart defects that need heart surgeries and further follow - ups.

And lastly, in Ben Tre on May 18, 687 children received heart scanning and luckily no children are diagnosed with congenital heart defects.

VCF will follow the cases of these children to support the children above soon in the near future.

In Vietnam, about 16,000 babies are born every year with congenital heart defects, of which 7,500 cases need medical intervention, according to research conducted by The VinaCapital Foundation.

Defects such as atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, and Tetralogy of Fallot had high risks a decade ago but can now be cured.

Many children in rural areas have few chances for cardiac diagnosis and consultancy, which results in life-threatening complications.

Founded in 2007, VCF’s grassroots medical programs include Heartbeat Vietnam and Outreach Clinics - designed to locate disadvantaged children with congenital heart defects and other non-communicable diseases in even the remotest areas and provide access to quality healthcare.

Medical capacity building programs are partnerships with the Ministry of Health and include Critical Response emergency care – pediatric advanced life support training & emergency equipment, and Survive to Thrive – building capacity for neonatal care./.

VNF