Viettel Group has raised donations worth VNĐ12 billion ($540,000) from its staff, each of whom contributed a day’s salary, to assist relief efforts in the storm- and flood-hit central provinces. — Photo kynguyenso

HCM CITY — Viettel Group has raised donations worth VNĐ12 billion ($540,000) from its staff, each of whom contributed a day’s salary, to assist relief efforts in the storm- and flood-hit central provinces.

It also sent over 100 engineers, who, by October 17, ensured all connections were working.

Viettel’s local technical staff had already moved their equipment to higher places to ensure the network did not go down in flood-prone districts like Bố Trạch, Minh Hoá, Tuyên Hoá, Quảng Trạch, and Quảng Ninh in Quảng Bình Province and Kỳ Anh and Cẩm Xuyên in Hà Tĩnh Province.

Before, the Việt Nam Television (VTV) and Viettel Group collected nearly VNĐ20 billion (US$900,000) during a gala held early this month reviewing the eight year existence of the “Heart for Kids” charity programme.

The programme, begun in 2008 by VTV and Viettel, has funded emergency operations for 3,231 poor children under 16 years old who have congenital heart disease. Total expenses have been VNĐ110 billion (US$5 million).

Another 31,600 poor children living in remote and economically difficult areas around the country have received free heart check-ups.

The programme has helped improve heart treatment services at seven local hospitals, and has held 10 online discussions between heart experts and congenital heart patients.

At the gala night, Viettel Group donated VNĐ6.63 billion, the National Fund for Vietnamese Children VNĐ4 billion, VinGroup VNĐ2 billion, Tân Hoàng Minh Group VNĐ2 billion, Hà Nội Cardiology Hospital 50 free heart surgery (about VNĐ2 billion worth), Viettin Bank VNĐ1 billion and Lixil Việt Nam VNĐ1 billion.

The Việt Nam Central Red Cross Association has been raising funds from donations of VNĐ18,000 ($0.8 cent) through SMSs sent to the number 1408 between September 15 and November 13. They have raised VNĐ2.7 billion.

The “Hearts for Kids” set a goal from now to 2020 to provide free heart check-ups for over 30,000 poor children and operate on 3,000 poor heart patients.

In mid-September, more than 800 children in Trà Vinh Province received free cardiovascular check-ups from doctors at the capital’s Bạch Mai Hospital and Hà Nội Medical University Hospital.

The examinations found nearly 40 children with congenital heart disease, with four expected to undergo immediate surgery. -- VNS