Children in Can Tho received free heart check-up

Many children under 16 in Can Tho city received free examinations for congenital heart disease. Source: PANO

Every year in Vietnam 16,000 babies are born with congenital heart defects. Half need immediate treatment. However, many children grew up with an unhealthy heart and did not seek medical advice. Most of these children live in remote areas of Vietnam. Their families earn the equivalent of a few US dollars per day. Healthcare for their children is a luxury. Travel and check-up costs add up fast.

Understanding their hardship, the program "Heart for you" has come to Can Tho city.

Many children under 16 years old in Can Tho city received free examinations for congenital heart disease under the program “Heart for you,” which was held at Can Tho Children’s Hospital on November 21 and 22.

The program was organized by the Military Industry-Telecoms Group (Viettel), the Vietnamese Heart Fund of the Vietnam Television and doctors from the Ho Chi Minh City Medicine and Pharmacy University's hospital, and Can Tho Children’s Hospital.

Speaking at the event, Lieutenant Colonel Huynh Trung Kien, Director of Viettel’s branch in Can Tho city said that Viettel stores are where applications for assistance from the program of needy children are received. Notably, Viettel will receive documents, verify family circumstances, and guide parents to complete the procedures when their files are approved by the doctors.

During the two months of October and November 2020, the program "Heart for you" was conducted in the four provinces and cities of Phu Yen, Yen Bai, Hai Phong and Can Tho. This is the first time the program "Heart for you" has come to Can Tho city, so it has received a lot of support from local authorities and people. In response to this meaningful activity, many businesses and organizations have joined hands with Viettel to organize the program.

Because many heart defects cannot be detected by the human eye, all children need to have a heart check-up at least once in their lives. The only way to detect a congenital defect is echocardiography. Based on the severity of the defect, doctors will offer appropriate treatment options. Due to advancements in Vietnamese cardiology, many types of heart defects can be treated almost completely. Children can recover and can enjoy a normal, healthy childhood.

In big cities, having a heart sonogram is easy. Mothers can know their children's heart health from the 18th week of pregnancy.

However, many children grow up with unhealthy hearts and families remain unaware.

The program “Heart for you,” run and funded by the Vietnam Television and Viettel, aims to offer free heart surgery for children under 16 from poor families. Over the past 10 years, the program conducted heart defect screening tests for some 100,000 children across the country, offered free heart surgery and cured more than 4,500 child patients.

 Lam Anh