HCM CITY — As many as 6,000 disadvantaged children with congenital heart defects have received life-saving surgery from Heartbeat Vietnam, a programme of VinaCapital Foundation, over the last 11 years.

Five-year-old Trương Thị Mỹ Yến from the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Kiên Giang is the 6,000th child with congenital heart defects saved by the programme.

Trương Minh Trí, Yến’s father, said his daughter was born with heart disease but his family could not afford heart surgery. The programme funded two life-saving operations, worth a total of VNĐ240 million (US$10,550), Trí said.

In November last year, Yến had a heart operation at HCM City University Medical Centre and has now fully recovered.

More than 80,000 children in 44 cities and provinces have received free screenings in the last 11 years, said Robin King Austin, CEO of VinaCapital Foundation.

Of that figure, more than 8,000 children were diagnosed with congenital heart defects and required surgery, Robin said at a press meeting held on Jan 16.

Robin, who is the co-founder and has been CEO of the organisation for 11 years, will retire from her position but remain on the board of directors as deputy chair.

Rad Kivette, who is the current deputy president of VCF, will be the new CEO beginning next month. Kivette has 25 years of experience in the field of medical capacity improvement and education for disadvantaged groups.

Founded in 2006, VCF aims to empower children and youth by providing opportunities for growth and improvement through health and education programmes. — VNS