Over 1,500 children under 16 years old in 6 poor districts of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on September 13^th-14^th were given free medical check-ups for early detection of the symptoms of inborn heart diseases.

This was part of the humanitarian heart operation program entitled “Operation Healthy Heart” conducted by the Vietnam Military Telecommunications Group (Viettel) in collaboration with the Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital, Chu Se Rubber Hospital in Gia Lai province and Vietnam Television (VTV).

A doctor gives heart check-up to a boy during the program. (Photo: PANO)

During the program, 36 children were discovered to contract inborn heart diseases, 10 of which receiving medical instruction to have the necessary operation.

As the majority of the 10 patients in need of surgical treatment belong to poor ethnic minority families who cannot afford the medical fees, the organising committee instructed the families on how to ask for assistance from the humanitarian program as well as from other domestic and international charitable organizations.

The program “Operation Healthy Heart” has been operational for the last 7 years, assisting the successful operation of over 2,700 child heart patients. Under the program, 7 provincial hospital have received investment to increase their capacity to provide heart surgery for children. The program targets to give operations to 3,000 underprivileged children who have contracted inborn heart diseases and to provide clinical heart check-ups for 30,000 poor children across the country./.

( Compiled by VNF )