The 7,000th patient, Tien Trinh Ngoc Vy, born in 2018, was diagnosed with congenital Tetralogy of Fallot. Vy has a twin sister and a seven-year-old brother.
Her parents, who live in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 5, could not afford the surgery costs of 80 million VND (3,400 USD) as her family lives on the father’s income as a driver.
After undergoing successful surgery in the Heart Institute in HCM City in March, Vy is now in good health.
The charity programme funded heart operations for 733 children in 2018 and 250 others since the beginning of 2019.
It will continue to travel to remote areas to deliver free heart screenings and fund operations for nearly 1,000 children diagnosed with congenital heart defects per year.
Some initiatives of Heartbeat Vietnam to promote fundraising and awareness include Vet Seo Cuoc Doi (Scar of Life) and Chay Vi Trai Tim (Run for the Heart), and documentaries Noi Ket Yeu Thuong (Connecting Love) on HCM City Television (HTV).
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 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.
Source: VNA