Surgical aid reaches children with congenital heart defects

Viettel in association with Vietnam television Station, Ho Chi Minh City Medicine & Pharmacy University and Khanh Hoa Hospital held a charity heart program on December 7-8, performing free cardiac screening for hundreds of children at Khanh Hoa General Hospital. Many of them will be also given financial aid for surgeries in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

Within 2 days, hundreds of children were taken to Khanh Hoa General Hospital for cardiac screening. They were guided by Viettel staff to fill in patient registration forms and wait for turns. The children were examined by experienced doctors from Ho Chi Minh City Medicine & Pharmacy University and Khanh Hoa General Hospital in 7 examinations rooms. Cao Thi Rung, Khanh Trung Commune, Khanh Vinh District, says, “I received a message about the program. The doctors and medical staff are very enthusiastic. I’m so happy that my child was identified not having heart defects.

 

 

 

Nguyen Viet Hung, Ninh Thuy Ward, Ninh Hoa Town, says his 5-month-old Le Anh Nhu Ngoc is suffering from congenital heart defects. “She looks pale and experiences shortness of breath occasionally, so we took her to Ninh Hoa Town Hospital. She was suspected of having congenital heart defects. This screening test showed that same result and recommended early surgery. The cost for the surgery is about VND100 million. I feel sad and worried because she is so young and our family is poor,” says Nguyen Viet Hung.

 

The program has given screening tests for monitoring cardiovascular health to more than 630 children in Khanh Hoa, detecting 65 cases with congenital heart defects, of which 25 cases were determined for surgeries. 21 cases have applied for financial assistance for surgeries. The heart operation cost for children in Khanh Hoa is expected some VND1 billion.

 

16-month-old Nguyen Tran Bao Ngoc in Van Gia Town, Van Ninh District is also diagnosed with congenital heart defects by the cardiac screening. Her mother named Nguyen Thi My Nguyet says, “Although we feel sad about the result but the program has enabled early intervention with treatments. However, the surgery cost is too much for us and my family is too poor to pay for the high bill. Therefore, we are in need of some extra support to help care for the child’s heart operation.”

 

Le Oanh, an official in charge of the charity heart program says 0.8 - 1% of babies are born with congenital heart defects which may cause serious malformation if not promptly and properly intervened. The program has provided guidance for applying for financial assistance for heart surgeries on patients under 16 determined for intervention. When the procedures are completed, the surgical procedure will be scheduled in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

The heart screening program has helped identify many children with congenital heart defects to be monitored and treated promptly and properly.

 

 

Van Giang

Translated by N.T