Heartbeat Vietnam celebrates on Wednesday, May 11, the completion of 9,000 successful heart operations on children with heart defects. Photo courtesy of Heartbeat Vietnam

HCM CITY — A total of 9,000 disadvantaged children with congenital heart defects across the country have undergone life-saving surgeries funded by VinaCapital Foundation’s healthcare programme Heartbeat Vietnam.

Lê Thành Danh , a 5-year-old boy from Cà Mau Province, is the 9,000th child to benefit from a life-saving intervention.

Danh was diagnosed with single ventricular heart defect at just two months and underwent his first operation with the support of the hospital where he was treated for the congenital condition.

Three years later, his health worsened and he needed another surgery to survive.

His parents, who are factory workers, could not afford the treatment costs and post-operative care.

Luckily, Danh received support from Heartbeat Vietnam to have his second and third heart operations last month.

He was discharged healthy three weeks after the third operation.

“VinaCapital Foundation has transformed the lives of 9,000 children who will now have the opportunity to be a child, grow up normally and dream. Their families now have hope and optimism. This transformation is one of the greatest rewards a person or an organisation can get,” said Don Lam, Co-Founder and CEO of VinaCapital and Chairman of the VinaCapital Foundation.

“As Việt Nam emerges from the pandemic and life for many returns to the new normal, we cannot forget that there are many people who will need assistance to get back to where they were before the pandemic.

“I am proud that the VinaCapital Foundation is a major contributor to the medical system and individual improvements. We are focused on the country’s most vulnerable,” Lam said at a ceremony organised on Wednesday (May 11) to celebrate the 9,000 successful heart operations to date.

“With this 9,000 children milestone, we are motivated and determined to keep moving forward and help more children and families have better access to healthcare, better living conditions and better lives overall,” he added.

There are 15,000 infants born with congenital heart defects in Việt Nam each year, according to the Ministry of Health.

Heartbeat Vietnam has dedicated itself to saving little lives by improving access to free quality healthcare for poor children with congenital heart defects, helping them receive timely treatment, and providing financial support for their families. —VNS