A doctor provides congenital heart screenings for children in Quảng Nam Province. — Photo vtv.vn

The Vietnamese Heart Fund’s deputy director Phạm Quốc Thắng praised the contribution of LIXIL Vietnam Corporation, which has helped bring new life to children with heart defects in Việt Nam over the past nine years.

Thắng said that the programme received donations from local and international enterprises, organisations, individuals and donors to help over 5,000 children with congenital heart defects over the past 10 years.

“We look forward to receiving more support from local and international donors, and the business community in the coming years," added Thắng.

At the event, LIXIL Vietnam Corporation also handed gifts to 50 disadvantaged children at the National Hospital of Paediatrics.

Initiated by the Vietnamese Heart Fund, Việt Nam Television and Viettel Group in 2008, the programme aims to provide heart surgeries to 3,000 needy children in Việt Nam by 2020.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health said 8,000-10,000 infants are born with congenital heart defects each year in Việt Nam and some 20,000 children in the country are still waiting for surgery. — VNS