Monday, 16/12/2019 11:14 (GMT+7)
Nearly 5,200 children suffering from congenital heart defects has been provided free surgery by the “Trai tim cho em” (Operation Healthy Heart) program.
Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan speaking at the gala (Photo: vnexpress.net)
The information was announced at the gala held in Ho Chi Minh city on December 15th.
According to the Vietnam News Agency, the event was jointly organised by the Vietnam Television (VTV)’s “Tam long Viet” (Vietnam’s Heart) foundation and the Vietnam Military-run Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel).
Speaking at the gala, Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh city Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan spoke highly of the charity programme.
It has also contributed to child protection and education in Vietnam as well as the country’s hunger eradication and poverty alleviation efforts, he added.
“Trai tim cho em” has raised 152 billion VND (6.5 million USD) over the past 11 years. In addition, over 130,000 children nationwide have received free heart disease screening.
In 2019 alone, the programme provided free surgery for more than 550 child patients while around 30,000 children received free screenings, doubling 2018’s figure.
On the occasion, the program’s new ambassadors - footballers Nguyen Trong Hoang, Que Ngoc Hai and Bui Tien Dung - presented a jersey with signatories of all members of the U22 team and Korean head coach Park Hang-seo, which will be auctioned to raise funds for future operations for children born with heart defects./.
BTA